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THE 


PE0CEEDING8 


LINNEAN    SOCIETY 


OF 


NEW    SOUTH    WALES 


VOL.   VIII. 

WITH   TWENTY-THREE    PLATES. 


Foe  the  Yeak  188.3 


SYDNEY: 

PRINTED    AND   TUBLISHED    FOR  THE   SOCIETY 

BY 

F.  CUNNINGHAME  &  CO.,  146  PITT  STREET, 

AND 

SOLD  BY  THE  SOCIETY. 


OP^o('' 


CONTENTS   OF  VOL.  VIII. 


PART  I. 

PAGE 
On  a  new  and  remarkable  Fish  of  the  Family   Mugilidoi  from  the 

Interior  of  New  Guinea.     By  William  Macleay,  F.L.S.,  &c.  ...         2 

On  some  points  in  the  Anatomy  of  the  Uro-genital  Organs  in  Females 
of  certain  species  of  Kangaroos  (Part  2.)  By  J.  J.  Fletcher, 
M.A.,  B.Sc 6 

On  Remains  of  an  Extinct  Marsupial.     By  Charles  W.  De  Vis,  B.A,        11 

Contributions  to  the  Zoology  of  New  Guinea  (Part  6).     By  E.  P. 

Ramsay,  F.L.S.  (Curator  of  the  Museum,  Sydney) 15 

On  some  Habits  of  Pelojjocus  Lcetus  and  a  Species  of  Larrada,     By  H. 

Rawes  Whittell,  Esq.  29 

On  the    Voracity   of   a  Species    of    Heterostoma.       By   H.    Rawes 

Whittell,  Esq 33 

On  the  Fossil  Flora  of  the  Coal  Deposits  of  Australia.  By  the  Rev. 
J.  E.  Tenison- Woods,  F.G.S,  F.L.S.,  Vice-President  Linnean 
Society,  New  South  Wales.     (Plates  1-IOa.)  37 

Contributions  to  the  Flora  of  Queensland.     By  the  Rev.  B.  Scorte- 

chini,  F.L.S,       168 

Description  of  Two  New  Fungi.     By  the  Rev.  C.  Kalchbrenisiee    ...     175 

Notes  on  the  Fructification  of  the  Bunya  Bunya  in  Sydney.     By  the 

Hon.  James  Norton     ..  176 

Description  of  some  New  Australian   Fishes.      By  E.  P.   Ramsay, 

F.L.S.,  &c. 177 

Notes  and  Exhibits 34,  179 


oZS3^ 


s- 


IV.  CONTENTS. 


PAET  11. 

PAGE 

Occasional  Notes  on  Plants  Indigenous  in  the  Immediate  Neighbour- 
hood of  Sydney  (No.  3).     ByE.  Haviland  182 

On  Tooth- marked  Bones  of  Extinct  Marsupials.     By  Charles  W.  De 

Vis,  B.A 187 

On  Brachalletes  Palmeri  an  Extinct  Marsupial.     By  Charles  W.  De 

Vis,  B.A 190 

On  the   Habits   of    the   Mallee  Hen,  Leiopa   Ocellata.      By   K.    H. 

Bennett 193 

Notes  on  a  Collection  of  Fishes  from  the  Burdekin  and  Mary  Rivers, 

Queensland.     By  William  Macleay,  F.L.S.,  &c.  199 

Notes  on  the  Method  of  obtaining  Water  from  Eucalyptus  Roots  as 
practised  by  the  Natives  of  the  Country  between  the  Laclilan 
and  Darling  Rivers.     By  K.  H.  Bennett,  Esq 213 

Notes  on  a  Viviparous  Lizard  {Hinulia  elegant.      By  J.  J.  Fletcher, 

M.A.,  B.Sc 215 

Notes  on  a  Lower  Jaw  of    Palorchestes  Azael.     By  Charles  W.  De 

Vis,  B.A 221 

Synonymy  of  Australian  and   Polynesian  Land  and  Marine  Mollusca. 

By  J.  Brazier,  C.M.Z.S.,  &c.,  &c 224 

On  some  Mesozoic  Fossils  from  Central  Australia.     By  the  Rev.  J.  E. 

Tenison- Woods,  F.G.S.,  &c.  (with  Two  Plates)      ...         235 

A  Second  Half-Century  of  Plants  new  to  South  Queensland.     By  the 

Rev.  B.  ScoRTECHiNi,  F.L.S 242 


CONTENTS.  V. 

PAGE 
Contribution  to  a  Knowledge  of  the  Fishes  of   New  Guinea  (No.  4). 

By  William  Macleay,  F.L.S  ,  &c 252 

Descriptions  of    New  Genera   and  Species  of  Australian  Fishes.     By 

Chaklks  VV.  Dii  Vis,  B  A 283 

Occasional  Notes  on  Plants   Indigenous  in  the  Immediate  Neighbour- 
hood of  Sydney  (No.  4).     By  E  Haviland 289 

Localities  of  some  Species  of  Recent   Polynesian    MoUusca.     By   J. 

Brazier,  C.M.Z.S.,  &c 294 

Notes  and  Exhibits     ...         197,217,280,290 


PART  III. 

PAGE 

Myology  of  Chlamydosaurus  Kingii.      By  Charles  W.  D.  Vis,  B  A. 

(Plates  14,  15  and  10) 300 

Descriptions  of  Australian  Micro-Lepidoptera.     By  E.  Meveick,  B.A. 

'Pa.rt  IX.,  OecoT^hoi-idvd  (Coiitiimed) 320 

Some  remarks  on   the  action  of    Tannin  on  Infusoria.      By  Harry 

Gilliatt,  Esq 383 

On  a  Fossil  Calvaria.     By  Chares  W.  De  Vis  B.A.  (Plate  17j         ...     392 

Remarks  on  a  Skull  of  an  Aboriginal  from  the  Lachlan  district.     By 

N.  DE  Miklouho-Maclay  (Plate  18)  395 

On  a  very  Dolichocephalic  Skull  of    an  Australian    Aboriginal.     By 

N.  DE  Miklouho-Maclay  (Plate  19) 401 

On  a  Fossil  Humerus,     By  Charles  W.  De  Vis,  B.A.  404 

Notes  on  some  undescribed  Coleoptera  in  the   Brisbane  Museum.     By 

William  Macleay,  F.L.S ..     409 

Notes  and  Exhibits 380,396,416 


vi.  CONTENTS. 

PART  IV. 

PAGE 

Occasional   Notes   on   Plants   indigenous   in   the    Neighbourhood    of 

Sydney  (No.  5).     By  E.  Haviland 421 

Temperature  of  the  body  of  Echidna  hystrix.     By  N.  de  Miklouho- 

Maclay 425 

Plagiostomata    of    the    Pacific,   Part    II.    (Plate    20).     By    N.    de 

Miklouho-Maclay  and  William  Macleay,  F.L.S.,  &c.  ..      426 

Notes   on   some    Eeptiles    from    the   Herbert    River.     By    William 

Macleay,  F.LS.,  &c 432 

Notes  on  some  Customs  of  the  Aborigines  of  the  Albert  District.     By 

C.  S.  Wilkinson,    F.G.S.,  F.L.S 436 

On  the  Brain  of  Grey's  Whale  (Plate  21).     By  William  A.  Haswell, 

M.A.,  B.Sc .         437 

On  a  new   genus   of    Fishes   from   Port    Jackson   (Plate  22).      By 

William  Macleay,  F.L.S. ,  &c 439 

Fishes  from  the  South  Sea  Islands.     By  Charles  W.  De  Vis,  M.A.     445 

Some  results  of  Trawl  Fishing  outside  Port  Jackson.     By  William 

Macleay,  F.L.S.,  &c 457 

The    "  Barometro  Araucano,"  from   the   Chiloe   Islands.     By  N,  de 

Miklouho-Maclay       462 

Far  Southern  localities  of  New  South  Wales  Plants.     By  Baron  Sir 

F.  vonMuller,  K.CM.G.,  F.R.S,  &c 467 

Descriptions    of    Australian     Micro-Lepidoptera,    Part    X.      By    E. 

Meyeick,  B.A 469 

Notes  on  the  Geology  of  the  Southern  portion  of  the  Clarence  River 

Basin.     By  Professor  Stephens,  M.A.  519 


CONTENTS.  Vll. 

PAGE 

Dimensions  of  some  gigantic  Land  Tortoises.     By  J.  C.  Cox,  M.D., 

F.L.S 531 

Notes  and  Exhibits 441,463,532 

President's  Annual  Address  ...         ...         ...  ; 536 

Office-Bearers  and  Council  f or  ]  884  583 

Title  page.  Contents  and  Index  of  Vol.  VIII. 


PROCEEDINGS 


LINNEAN   SOCIETY 


OF    NEW   SOUTH    WALES. 


WEDNESDAY,  31st  JANUARY,  1883. 
The  President,  C.  S.  Wilkinson,  F.G.S.,  &c.,  in  the  Chair. 


MEMBERS    ELECTED. 

H.  B.  Guppy,  M.B.,  R.N.,  Surgeon,  H.M.S.  "  Lark," 

Mr.  Matthew,  R.N.,  H.M.S.  "  Espiegle," 

Dr.  Smith,  Brisbane,  Queensland. 

Theodore  Wood,  Esq.,  Virginia,  Maryborough,  Queensland. 

Allison  S.  L.  Wells,  Esq.,  Maryborough,  Queensland. 

W.  H.  Ascher,  Esq. 


DONATIONS. 

"  Proceedings  of  the  Zoological  Society  of  London,"  for  1882, 
Part  3,  8vo.     From  the  Society. 

"  Eragmenta  Phytographise  Australise,"  Vol.  XII.,  Part  xciv., 
8vo.,  1882.  By  Baron  Ferd.  von  Miiller,  K.C.M.G.  Frooi  the 
author. 


2  ON    A    FISH    OF    THE    FAMILY    MUGILIDCE, 

"Prodromus  Ornitliologiae  Papiiasi?e  et  Moluccarum,"  Nos.  i. — 
XV.,  auctore  Thoma  Salvadorio.     From  the  author. 

"Journal  of  Conchology,"  Vol.  11.,  Nos.  1  to  12,  Vol.  III., 
Nos,  1  to  10 ;  January  1879  to  April  1882,  -svith  Reprints  of 
Articles  on  the  life  history  of  Helix  arbustorum  and  the  Mollusca 
of  Bristol  and  Beverley  Districts.  From  the  Conchological 
Society  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland. 

"  Bulletin  de  la  Societe  Imperiale  des  Naturalistes  de  Moscou." 
No.  4,  1881,  and  "Table  Generale  et  Systematiqae  des  Matieres 
contenues  dans  les  premiers  56  volumes  (annees  1829-1881)  du 
Bulletin  de  la  Societe."     From  the  Society. 

"  Bulletin  de  la  Societe  Zoologique  de  France,"  Tomes  1. — YI. 
complete,  Tome  VII.,  Livr.  1  and  2.     From  the  Society. 


papers  read. 

On   a   new  and  remarkable  Fish  of  the  family 
FROM   THE  Interior  of  New  Guinea. 

By  W.  Macleay,  F.L.S.  &c. 

Among  a  large  variety  of  Fishes,  both  saltwater  and  fresh, 
lately  brought  from  New  Guinea  by  Mr.  Alex  Goldie,  is  one  so 
abnormal  in  some  respects  that  I  may  be  excused  if  I  make  it  the 
subject  of  a  special  paper,  leaving  the  rest  of  the  collection  for 
my  "  Fourth  contribution  to  a  knowledge  of  the  fishes  of  New 
Guinea  "  v/hich  I  hope  to  be  able  to  lay  before  you  in  the  course 
of  a  few  weeks.  The  fish  in  question  is  undoubtedly  of  the  family 
Mugilidce,  and  in  fact  might  almost  be  included  in  the  genus 
Agonostoma,  were  it  not  for  a  structure  of  mouth  unknown  as  I 
believe  among  fishes.  In  most  teleosteous  fishes,  at  all  events  in 
this  family,  the  gill  openings  are  large,  and  what  may  be  termed 


BY    W.    MACLEAY,    F.L.S.  6 

the  gill  covers  extend  quite  to  the  symphysis  of  the  lower 
jaw,  leaving  a  more  or  less  open  space  on  the  chin,  composed  of 
the  integuments  surrounding  the  extremity  of  the  hyoid  arch,  and 
forming  the  floor  of  the  mouth.  Of  this  general  form  there  are 
modifications  in  many  families  of  fishes,  but  I  have  never  before 
known  such  a  complete  departure  from  the  normal  type  as  in  the 
present  instance. 

Through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Haswell,  who  has  made  the 
preparations  and  drawings  for  me,  I  am  enabled  to  illustrate  this 
paper  with  two  woodcuts,  which  will  explain  better  than  any 
description  the  peculiarities  of  the  fish.       Fig.   1   represents  the 


under  side  of  the  head  in  the  natural  state,  and  Fig.  2  the  same 
with  some  of  the  integuments  removed  and  showing  the  bones. 
Mr.  Haswell    has    also    made    for    me   a    good    preparation    for 


4  ON    A    FISH    OF    THE    FAMILY    MUGILID(E, 

comparison,  of  the  mouth,  &c.,  of  Mugil  Waigiensis,  which  may- 
be taken  as  a  good  type  of  the  Mugilidce. 


mSQMM£^ 


Fig.  2. 


a — Dentary  of  mandible.  li — Pre-operculum. 

h — Premaxilla.  «'— Suboperculum. 

c — Maxilla.  A" — Glossohyal. 

d-AngiUar    Kf  .mandible.        ^-Basihyal. 

e — Articular  j  wi— Urohyal. 

/-  Quadrate.  /i— Vomer. 

g — Interoporculum.  o — Brauchiostegals. 

The  chief  and  most  obvious  peculiarity  of  the  fish  I  am 
describing  is  undoubtedly  the  well  marked  division  across  the 
under  surface  of  the  head,  from  the  extremity  of  the  ramus  of 
the  mandible  on  one  side  to  that  of  the  other  (shown  in  Fig.  1), 
a  division,  however,  w^hich  though  deep  and  well  defined,  is  only 
external,  and  has  no  communication  whatever  with  the  mouth.  An 
examination  of  the  bones  of  the  head  (Fig,  2),  shows  however  that 
notwithstanding  the  very  abnormal  external  appearance,  the 
actual  divergence  from  the  typical  fish  skull  is  less  than  might 
have  been  anticipated,  and  in  fact  is  not  so  much  a  divergence 
from  the  type  as  a  variation  of  it. 


BY   W.    MACLEAY,    F.L.S.  0 

The  hyoid  bones  are  the  least  normal;  the  urohyal(fig  2  m)is  slight; 
the  basihyal  (fig  2  b)  short  ;  and  the  glossohyal  (fig  2  k)  very  small 
and  slightly  longer  than  broad  ;  the  most  advanced  of  these  bones, 
the  glessohyal,  reaches  only  to  the  transverse  division  at  the  base 
of  the  mandibles,  whereas  in  Mugil  Waigiensis  the  basihyal  and 
glossohyal  bones  are  large  and  prominent,  supporting  the  whole 
Hoor  of  the  mouth,  and  extending  almost  to  the  symphysis  of  the 
lower  jaw.  In  Mugil  Waigiensis  also  the  mandibular  bones  are  of 
a  slighter  make.  I  propose  for  this  fish  which  differs  considerably 
in  other  points  than  those  I  have  now  mentioned  from  any  of  the 
genera  of  Mugilidm  hitherto  described,  the  generie  name  of 

Aescheichthys. 

Mouth  lateral,  extending  to  the  line  of  the  orbit ;  hyoid  bones 
not  extending  on  the  floor  of  the  mouth,  an  external  transverse 
fossa  at  the  base  of  the  mandibles,  lips  thick,  lower  lip  rounded  in 
front,  teeth  on  the  upper  jaw  only. 

Aeschrichthys  Goldiei. 

D.  1/8.     A.  3/9.      L.  LAT.  46.     L.  trans  v.  14. 

Height  of  body  about  four  times  in  the  length,  body  slightly 
compressed  and  convex,  head  very  convex ;  eye  small,  without 
adipose  membrane,  situated  about  three  of  its  diameters  from  the 
extremity  of  the  snout.  Upper  lip  very  thick,  extending  to  the 
vertical  from  the  posterior  third  of  the  eye  ;  the  lower  lip  is 
narrowly  rounded  in  front,  and  is  edged  on  each  side  below  by  a 
rigid  and  grooved  margin,  which  extends  as  far  back  as  the  upper 
lip,  both  being  there  quite  separated  from  the  interoperculum,  two 
fleshy  caruncles  free  at  the  extremity  intervene  between  the 
mandibular  extremities.  The  teeth  in  the  upper  jaw  are 
apparently  serrations  of  the  surface  of  the  bone ;  there  are  two 
large  osseous  lumps  on  the  vomer  covered  with  teeth.  The  tail  is 
forked,  the  fins  are  for  the  most  part  blackish,  so  is  the  upper  part 
of  the  head  and  body,  the  belly  seems  to  have  been  yellowish. 

Good  sized  specimens  are  18  inches  in  length. 


b  ON    SOME    POINTS    IN    THE    ANATOMY    OF    KANGAROOS, 

Mr.  Goldie  found  this  fish  very  abundant  in  the  Goldie  River, 
about  100  miles  by  its  course  from  its  mouth  in  Redsear  Bay,  and 
about  30  miles  in  a  straight  line  inland  from  the  sea.  He  and  his 
party  used  the  fish  as  food  for  some  time  and  found  them  excellent, 
as  indeed  all  the  Mugilidce  are.  Very  fortunately  Mr.  Goldie  was, 
at  the  time  he  was  engaged  in  collecting  these  Fishes,  short  of  a 
sufficient  nuuiber  of  other  Fish  to  fill  up  a  cask,  and  to  that 
circumstance  I  am  indebted  for  a  much  larger  number  of  specimens 
of  this  Fish,  than  Mr.  Goldie  would  otherwise  have  thouojht  of 
preserving. 


On  some  POINTS  IN  THE  Anatomy  of  the  Uro-genital  Organs 
IN  Females  of  certain  species  of  Kangaroos. — Part  II. 

By  J.  J.  Fletcher,  M.A.,  B.Sc. 

The  organs  of  sixteen  females  referable  to  the  following  species' 
have  been  examined  : — 

Rock  Wallaby  fPetrogale  j^enicillata)  1  specimen. 

Red-necked  Wallaby  (Hahnaturus  ruficollis),  2  specimens. 

Wallaroo  ( Osphranter  robustus)  4  specimens. 

Red  Kangaroo  (0.  rufus)  2  specimens. 

Dorsal-striped  Wallaby  (H.  dorscdis)  2  specimens. 

Black -tailed  Wallaby  (H.  ualahatus)  1  specimen. 

Grey  Kangaroo  (Macropus  major)  4  specimens. 

From  fourteen  of  these  specimens,  sections  were  carefully  cut, 
commencing  at  the  last  half-inch  of  the  median  vagina,  and 
continuing  until  the  appeai'ance  of  the  meatus  urinarius.  In  none 
of  the  sixteen  specimens  is  there  a  direct  communication  between 
the  median  vaginal  and  the  uro-genital  chambers,  though  with  the 
exception  of  M.  major,  they  all  belong  to  species  in  which  the 
direct  communication  is  known  to  exist  after  parturition.  This 
state  of  things  is  confirmatory  of  the  view  that  the  direct 
communication  as  a  rule,  is  probably  completed  during  pregnancy, 
or  at  parturition.  But  though  the  direct  communication  was  not 
met  with,    there    are  various    shades    of    approximation    to    it. 


BY    J.    J,    FLETCHER,    MA.,    B.SC.  7 

Excluding  the  specimens  of  M.  major,  it  may  be  stated  generally  of 
the  others,  that  the  median  vagina  came  to  an  end  sometimes  rather 
abruptly,  but  usually  in  a  more  gradual  manner,  and  that  this 
never  took  place  un.il  sections  showing  the  uro-genital  canal  were 
met  with.  The  sections  after  the  disappearance  of  the  median 
vagina  were  carefully  counted  until  the  meatus  urinarius  was  met 
with,  and  from  a  comparison  of  the  numbers,  it  would  appear  as  a 
rule,  that  the  more  nearly  full-grown  the  animal  from  which  the 
organs  came,  the  fewer  the  intervening  sections,  that  is,  the  further 
back  the  cavity  of  the  median  vagina  extends.  The  ridges  in  the 
uro-genital  canal  are  as  previously  described. 

Petrogale  jyenicillata. — One  specimen  from  an  animal  measuring 
19  inches.  It  is  very  similar  to  the  second  specimen  of  the  same 
species  described  in  my  first  paper,  except  that  fewer  sections — 
twenty-eight  as  compared  with  forty- two— intervene  between  the 
disappearance  of  the  median  vaginal  chamber  and  the  first  appear- 
ance of  the  meatus  urinarius. 

Halmaturus  ruficollis. — Two  specimens  from  animals,  measuring 
22  in.  and  24  in.  respectively,  as  compared  with  25^  in.  and  29  in. 
in  the  case  of  two  females  with  young  in  the  pouch,  shot  in  the 
same  locality.  A  complete  longitudinal  septum  is  present  in  both 
specimens.  In  one  case  the  septum  does  not  reach  to  the  end  of 
the  chamber,  whereas  in  the  other,  it  still  appears  in  sections 
which  show  the  uro-genital  canal.  The  sections  intervening 
between  the  ending  of  the  median  vaginal  chamber  and  the  first 
appearance  of  the  meatus  urinarius  were  47  and  54  respectively. 

Osphranter  robustus. — Four  specimens  of  which  two  were  from 
animals  measuring  28  in.  and  30  in.  respectively.  I  have  not  the 
measurements  of  the  other  two,  but  judging  from  the  size  of  the 
organs,  one  of  them  was  slightly  and  the  other  considerably  larger 
than  the  two  first  mentioned.  In  addition,  I  have  cut  sections  of 
specimen  (^d)  of  my  first  paper.  All  five,  except  in  the  number  of 
sections  which  intervene  between  the  ending  of  the  median  part  of 
the  vagina  and  the  first  appearance  of  the  meatus  urinarius,  do  not 
materially  diff'er  from  specimen  fc),  described  in  the  same  paper. 


8  ON    SOME    POINTS    IN    THE    ANATOMY    OF    KANGAROOS, 

The  sections  in  question  number  30,  46,  17, 11,  and  28  respectively, 
as  compared  with  33  in  specimen  c.  The  sections  of  two  of  these 
show  the  longitudinal  septum  very  well. 

Os2}hranter  rufus. — Two  specimens  from  animals  of  which  the 
dimensions  are  unknown  to  me,  but  judging  from  the  size  of  the 
organs  they  were  both  very  large  for  unimpregnated  females, 
though  this  may  in  some  measure  be  due  to  the  fact  that  the 
animals  were  shot  just  about  the  commencement  of  the  breeding 
season.  In  one  case  eight  sections  came  between  the  ending  of 
the  median  vagina  and  the  first  appearance  of  the  meatus 
urinarius.  The  other  specimen  was  carefully  dissected,  and 
shows  the  median  vaginal  chamber  extending  very  far  back,  and 
ending  blindly  just  in  advance  of  the  meatus  urinarius.  The 
two  chambers  are  thus  separated  merely  by  the  thin  intervening 
portion  of  the  ventral  wall  of  the  urogenital  canal. 

Halmaturus  dor  sails. — Two  specimens  from  animals  of  which  I 
have  not  the  measurements.  The  larger  of  the  two  gives  sections 
of  about  the  same  size  as  the  specimen  of  P.  penicillata  above 
mentioned.  The  other  is  evidently  from  a  smaller  animal.  The 
sections  which  intervene  between  the  endinsjofthe  median  vaginal 
chamber  and  the  first  appearance  of  the  meatus  urinarius  in  these 
two  cases  are  13  and  28. 

HalmatuTus     ualabatus. One     specimen     from    an    animal 

measuring  about  15  in.  This  example  is  similar  to  the  first 
of  the  two  unimpregnated  specimens  of  P.  penicillata  described 
in  my  first  paper.  The  cavity  of  the  median  part  of  the 
vagina  extends  very  far  back,  but  comes  to  an  end  in  the  usual 
way,  while  in  sections  which  show  the  last  part  of  its  course  there 
is  seen  below  and  distinct  from  it,  another  aperture,  and  this  is 
found  to  be  in  communication  with  the  urogenital  canal  and  the 
place  of  communication  occupies  the  usual  position  of  the  aperture 
of  the  direct  communication  as  seen  in  animals  which  have  produced 
young  The  two  passages  overlap  to  a  greater  extent  than  in  the 
specimen  of  P.  p.  alluded  to  above,  but  in  both  cases  if  they  had 
been  in  the  same  straight  line  and  in  the  same  plane  they  would 


BY   J.    J.    FLETCHER,    M.A.,    B.SC.  9 

have  met,  and  the  direct  commimicatiou  would  have  been  formed. 
These  two  specimens  would  seem  to  show  that  the  direct  commu- 
nication is  completed  independently  of  the  median  vaginal  canal, 
and  by  the  extension  backwards  of  what  has  the  appearance  of 
being  an  involution  of  the  urogenital  canal.  As  this  condition  has 
been  met  with  in  two  only  out  of  fifteen  specimens  (excluding  M„ 
major^  of  which  sections  have  been  cut,  though  some  of  the 
animals  from  which  they  come  were  nearly  adult,  it  would  seem  to 
be  brought  about,  as  a  rule,  probably  during  pregnancy  and  only 
exceptionally  earlier  as  in  the  two  cases  in  question.  All  my 
pregnant  specimens  so  far  have  been  from  animals  which  had 
previously  borne  young  and  so  throw  no  light  on  this  point.  The 
direct  communication  in  virgin  animals  has  been  met  with 
previously  in  two  cases,  namely  by  Lister  in  H.  ualabatus  and 
Brass  in  H.  beunettii. 

Ifacropus  Major. — Four  specimens  from  animals  of  which  I  am 
unable  to  give  the  measurements.  From  three  specimens  sections 
which  were  cut  differ  from  those  considered  above,  chiefly  in  the 
fact  that  the  cul-de-sac  came  to  an  end  sooner,  and  always  before 
the  urogenital  canal  appeared  in  section,  in  one  case  this 
happened  thirty-eight  sections  before  the  urogenital  canal  appeared 
in  section,  and  seventy  sections  before  the  meatus  urinarius  was 
reached.  I  am  unable  to  give  the  number  of  sections  in  the  other 
two  cases. 

Summary  and  Conclusion. — The  eighty  specimens  treated  of  in 
this  and  in  my  first  paper  are  here  considered  together. 

1 .  The  post  partum  existence  of  a  direct  communication  between 
the  median  portion  of  the  vagina  and  the  urogenital  canal  has  been 
verified  in  the  case  of  three  species— Petrogale  penicillata, 
Halmaturus  ruticoUis,  and  Osphranter  ruf  us. 

2.  Three  species — H.  dorsalis,  Osphranter  robustus  and  Ony- 
chogalea  frsenata  have  been  added  to  the  list  of  nine  in  which  such 
a  direct  communication  is  known  to  obtain.  The  twelve  species 
then  are — Halmaturus  benettii,  H.  ruficollis,    H.  billiardieri,  H. 


10  ON    SOME    POINTS    IN   THE    ANATOMY    OF   KANGAROOS, 

ualabatus,  H.  derbianns,  H.  agilis,  H.  dorsalis,  Petrogale  peni- 
cillata,  P.  exanthopus,  Osphranter  vufus,  O.  robustus,  and 
Onychogalea  fraenata. 

3.  The  remarkable  condition  presented  by  Macropus  Major  in 
which,  unless  very  exceptionally,  there  is  no  direct  communication 
even  after  young  have  been  produced  has  been  verified  in  twenty- 
eight  specimens. 

4.  In  virgin  animals  of  H.  ruficollis,  H.  dorsalis,  P.  penicillata, 
O.  robustus,  and  O.  rufus  the  direct  communication  did  not  exist, 
but  in  one  specimen  of  P.  p.  and  one  of  H.  ualabatus  the  direct 
communication  was  in  process  of  formation  but  still  incomplete ; 
and  these  two  specimens  seem  to  show  that  the  aperture  of 
communication  arises  probably  not  by  a  mere  rupture  of  the 
intervening  portion  of  the  wall  of  the  urogenital  canal,  but  by 
an  involution  of  the  latter  canal  growing  backwards  to  meet  the 
cavity  of  the  median  portion  of  the  vagina  when  the  latter  has 
reached  its  maximum  backward  extension.  My  own  observations 
show  that  it  is  possible  for  the  direct  communication  to  exist  in 
virgins,  while  those  of  other  observers  show  that  exceptionally 
this  actually  is  the  case  ;  but  more  usually  it  would  seem  to  be 
formed  late  in  life,  probably  during  pregnancy  or  at  parturition. 

The  acquisition  of  this  material  would  have  cost  me  a  vast 
amount  of  trouble  but  for  the  great  kindness  and  ready  help  of 
a  number  of  gentlemen,  to  whom  my  hearty  thanks  are  due  and 
are  hereby  accorded.  Especially  am  I  indebted  to  my  friend  and 
colleague,  Mr.  K.  T.  Baker,  for  much  assistance  in  the  field,  and 
for  the  diagrams  and  drawings  with  which  the  reading  of  this 
paper  was  illustrated ;  also  to  my  friend,  Mr,  E.  Morley,  for 
another  donation  of  valuable  specimens  ;  also  to  George  Hill, 
Esq.,  for  an  invitation  to,  and  the  most  hospitable  treatment  at,  his 
station,  JNIokai  Springs ;  also  to  S.  Cox,  Esq.,  for  an  invitation 
to  visit  Rawdon  ;  likewise  to  Messrs.  Brown,  A.  Cox  and  Belcher 
for  their  guidance  and  help  in  procuring  some  good  shooting, 
also  to  several  gentlemen  of  whose  proffered  kindness  I  was 
unable  to  avail  myself. 


BY   J.    J.    FLETCHER,    M.A.,    B.SC.  11 

Finally,  I  should  be  very  much  obliged  to  any  gentleman  who 
can  at  any  time  give  me  notice  of  a  "  Kangaroo  Drive"  about  to 
take  place  in  any  accessible  part  of  the  colony. 


On  Remains  of  an  Extinct  Marsupial. 

By  C.  W.  De  Yis,  B.A. 

It  most  frequently  happens  that  bones  obtained  from  the 
Queensland  drifts  are  confusedly  scattered  specimens,  having 
indeed  a  certain  value  of  their  own,  but  often  demanding  of  their 
specifier  a  large  use  of  that  "  wise  and  well-founded  conjecture" 
which  is  not  always  within  reach.  Every  association  of  congruous 
bones  is  therefore  of  value — generally  of  sufficient  value  to  be  placed 
on  record,  however  mistaken  in  his  conclusions  drawn  from  the  bones 
themselves  the  recorder  may  chance  to  be.  A  belief  in  this,  has 
prompted  the  following  observations  on  a  collection  of  fragments 
in  a  precisely  similar  state  of  preservation,  and  evidently  belonging 
to  the  same  individual,  obtained  together  in  Gowrie  Creek,  with 
much  pains  and  patience  by  my  friend,  Mr.  Henry  Tryon.  From 
these  fragments,  it  has  been  found  possible  to  reconstruct  a  few 
bones  in  portions,  sufficient  to  guide  us  among  the  probable 
affinities  of  their  whilom  owner.  Fortunately,  one  of  the  relics  is 
a  molar  tooth — a  deciduous  grinder  of  a  young  animal,  the 
epiphyses  of  whose  long  bones  were  as  yet  non-adherent.  The 
tooth  is  14  lines  in  length,  10  J  lines  in  its  anterior,  and  9  lines  in 
its  posterior  transverse  diameter.  Though  worn  down  nearly  to  a 
level  with  the  gum,  the  disposition  of  the  enamel  shows  that  it  had 
two  nearly  equal  transverse  lobes,  a  strong  tubercle  opposite  to  the 
inner  entry  of  the  valley,  no  median  or  other  link,  no  cingulum 
and  no  anterior  valon.  On  the  inner  half  of  the  hinder  edge  of 
the  base,  a  sinus  of  enamel  indicates  that  an  accessory  cusp  rising 
therefrom,  with  an  outwardly-directed  and  expanding  concavity, 
was  applied  to  the  hinder  lobe  posteriorly,  much  as  in  the  true 
molars  of  Macroims  Titan.  The  fangs,  partially  absorbed,  are  two 
in  number — the  upper  part  of  the  front  surface  of  the  anterior  and 


12  ON    REMAINS    OF    AN    EXTINCT    MARSUPIAL, 

larger  one,  is  shallowly  excavated  for  the  reception  of  the  neck  of 
the  tooth  preceding  it — the  upper  part  of  the  hinder  surface  of 
this  fang  is  deeply  channelled,  as  though  premonitory  of  its 
complete  division  in  the  true  molars.  These  characters  selectively 
show  marks  of  affinity  with  2Iacropus  and  Palorchestes  on  the  one 
hand — with  Nototherium  and  Diprotodon  on  the  other — 
collectively,  they  point  to  some  bilophodont  form  differing  from 
both  the  genera  named.  The  suggestion  is  strengthened  by  an 
examination  of  the  accompanying  incisors.  Of  these,  five  out 
of  six  are  serially  represented,  the  three  of  the  right  side  more  or 
less  in  perfection.  The  front  tooth  (i)  assumes  the  form  of  a 
tusk,  but  instead  of  the  long,  strongly-arched,  laterally  compressed 
and  deeply  channelled  fang  of  a  tusk  before  me,  which  unmistake- 
ably  belongs  to  the  Nototherium  (^Mitchelli),  the  present  fossil 
has  its  fang  short,  slightly  curved,  and  moderately  compressed  fore 
and  aft.  It  is,  moreover,  conspicuously  striated  on  the  upper  part 
of  its  fore  and  hind  surfaces,  and  presents  at  its  fracture,  an 
angularly  oval,  not  the  bilobed  section  of  the  nototherian  tooth. 
Nototherian  tusks  again  are  widest  in  the  middle  of  the  fang 
whence  they  contract  slightly  in  both  directions,  the  fang  before 
us  thickens  rapidly  from  the  pulp  cavity  upwards  to  its  junction 
with  the  crown,  where  it  attains  a  diameter  of  13  lines.  Of  the 
projecting  blade  nothing  can  be  said.  The  outer  tooth  (i  2)  is  as 
to  its  fang  similar  in  proportions  and  not  much  less  in  size,  being 
12  lines  in  breadth  and  9  lines  in  thickness.  In  section  it  is  sub- 
triangular.  On  the  inner  surface  of  the  neck  is  an  elongate 
concave  facet  adapted  to  the  convex  surface  of  the  intermediate 
incisor.  The  blade  is  produced  to  an  extent  of  15^  lines  in  the 
axis  of  the  tooth,  forming  a  long  oval  strongly  concave  near  the 
base  and  thinning  suddenly  off"  towards  the  ajDex,  which  appears  to 
have  been  trenchant.  The  second  or  intermediate  tooth  is 
comparatively  small,  its  diameter  being  but  7  lines  ;  it  has  a  sub- 
triangular  and  slightly  convex  working  surface,  and  when  in  place 
seems  little  more  than  an  extension  of  the  base  of  the  outer  tooth. 
On  the  whole  the  incisor  group  may  be  regarded  as  nototheroid 
in    character ;    the    incisors   and  molar    together  as   sui   generis. 


BY    C.    W.    DE    VIS,    B.A.  13 

Femur.  Of  this  bone  a  moiety  of  the  shaft  has  been  recovered, 
but  unfortunately  no  portion  of  the  heads.  That  part  of  the  bone 
however,  which  has  been  restored,  comprising  the  proximal  half, 
perhaps  somewhat  more,  of  the  shaft,  from  near  the  base  of  the 
great  trochanter  on  the  one  side  and  from  the  upper  part  of  the 
lesser  one  on  the  other,  is  a  most  welcome  guide.  The  lesser 
trochanter  is  represented  exactly  as  in  the  Diprotodon's  femur  by 
a  broad  and  low  convex  ridge  running  along  the  hinder  half  of  the 
lower  margin  of  the  "  neck."  Another  Diprotodontoid  feature 
is  also  observable  in  the  present  fossil,  the  scar  between  the  two 
trochanters.  This  in  Biprotodon  is  a  long  shallow  depression  on 
the  anterior  side  of  the  shaft  close  to  the  lower  margin  of  the  neck — 
in  the  bone  before  us  it  is  a  semi-lunar  rough  tract  with  its  lower 
convex  border  raised  above  the  surface.  Again  the  scar  repre- 
senting the  so-called  "  third  trochanter"  in  the  Kangaroo  is 
present  in  both  femurs,  but  not  in  the  same  position.  In 
Diprotodon  it  appears  about  the  middle  of  the  shaft,  in  this  fossil 
it  is  close  to  the  inner  edge.  A  rough  tract  from  the  great 
trochanter  downwards  alongside  the  whole  outer  edge  formed  by 
the  fore  and  hind  surfaces  resembles  in  a  general  way  the 
corresponding  representative  of  the  linea  aspera  in  the  Diprotodon. 
The  bone  as  restored  measures  13  inches  in  length  and  2  J  inches 
in  its  least  transverse  diameter.  The  fore  and  aft  diameter  of  this 
greatly  compressed  fossil  may  not  however  be  trusted,  the  bone 
has  evidently  been  subjected  to  a  crushing  power  which  may  have 
flattened  it  considerably  before  breaking  it  up  into  angular 
fragments.  On  the  whole  it  bears  a  striking  resemblance  to  a 
Diprotodon  femur. 

Radius  and  Ulna. — Of  the  Hadius  and  Ijlna,  of  the  last- 
named  marsupial  or  of  Nototherium  the  writer  knows  nothing 
with  certainty.  There  are  bones  before  him  which,  from  their 
size  alone,  might  well  be  referred  to  one  or  other  of  the  gigantic 
genera,  but  from  evidence  at  hand  it  appears  probable  that  there 
is  more  than  one  huge  form  to  be  distinguished,  by  their  as  yet 
unknown  dentition,  from  those  whose  teeth  have  been  discovered. 
It  would,    therefore,  be  hazardous   to    associate    the   radio-uluar 


14  ON    REMAINS    OF    AN    EXTINCT    MARSUPIAL, 

joint  of  the  subject  before  us  with  those  referred  to,  notwith- 
standing that  it  has  much  greater  affinity  with  them  than  with 
that  of  any  macropod  or  phascolomys.  We  must  be  content  to 
notice  its  distinctive  features.  The  proximal  end  of  the  radius 
in  the  kangaroo  is  characterised  by  a  strong  inflection  of  the  neck 
of  the  bone  ulnad,  and  by  the  development  from  its  inner  side 
below  the  neck  of  a  produced  tubercle  for  the  insertion  of  the 
biceps  tendon.  In  the  fossil  radius  the  inflection  is  but  slight, 
and  there  is  no  tubercle  whatever,  the  tendon  being  inserted  on 
the  strongly  rugose  surface.  It  has  in  the  first  particular  moi'e 
resemblance  to  the  radius  of  the  wombat,  but  in  this  animal  the 
tubercle,  though  lower  than  in  the  kangaroo,  stands  well  out  from 
the  surface  of  the  bone.  In  the  macropod  the  interosseous  ridge 
is  faintly  marked — in  the  fossil  it  is  conspicuously  developed. 
At  four  diameters  from  the  head  it  causes  nearly  as  great  a 
dilatation  of  the  shaft  as  in  Phascolomys,  but  whereas  in  the 
latter  it  forms  a  sharp  edge  resulting  from  the  gradual  bevelling 
of  the  whole  shaft  towards  it,  in  the  fossil  it  is  the  edge  of  a 
longitudinal  ridge  pinched  out,  as  it  were,  from  the  body  of  the 
bone  from  which  it  is  separated  on  the  outer  side  by  an  im- 
pressed channel.  In  a  portion  of  the  ulna,  consisting  of  the  head 
minus  the  olecranon,  we  remark  the  absence  of  the  lesser 
sigmoid  cavity  and  the  imperfection  of  the  greater.  The  median 
ridge  of  the  latter  is  completed  only  at  the  posterior  edge  adjacent 
to  the  olecranon — in  front  there  is  no  deflection  of  the  articular 
surface  towards  the  position  which  should  be  occupied  by  the 
lesser  sigmoid.  The  insertion  of  the  brachialis  anticus  is  not  as 
in  the  Macropodidse  into  a  rough  oblique  ridge  beneath  the 
coronoid  process,  nor  as  in  Phascolomys  into  a  depression  on  the 
inner  foot  of  the  sigmoid  process,  but  into  a  deep  pit  in  the 
front  of  the  upper  edge  of  that  process.  The  outer  surface  of  the 
shaft,  from  the  broken  edge  of  the  olecranon  to  the  lower  end 
of  the  fragment,  is  traversed  by  a  broad  and  rough  tract  for  the 
attachment  of  the  interosseous  ligament. 

To  sum  up — In  dentition  the  animal  diverges  considerably  from 
N'ototherium — more  so  from  Liprotodon — its  divergence  is  towards 


BY    C.    W.    DE    VIS,    B.A.  15 

the  Maeropodidai.  In  its  long  bones  it  approaches  very  closely 
to  Diprotodon,  possibly  to  Nototherium  also.  Its  thigh-bone 
shows  that  it  hardly  departed  from  these  in  the  structure  and 
niov^ements  of  its  hind  quarters.     It  is  in  short  a  transition  form. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  rest  of  the  bones,  namely,  two 
ribs,  portions  of  two  dorsal  vertebrae,  part  of  a  pelvis  and  of  a 
scapula  and  portions  of  a  tibia  and  fibula,  are  too  imperfect  to 
afibrd  material  for  comparative  or  descriptive  notes.  It  may  be 
convenient  that  the  creature  should  have  a  name,  and  since  its 
remains  have  carried  us  from  the  known  to  the  unknown,  the 
writer  would  suggest  Sthenomerus  Charon. 


Contributions  to  the  Zoology  of  New  Guinea,  Part  YII. 

By  E.  p.  Ramsay,  F.L.S.   (Curator  of  the  Museum,  Sydney.) 

Since  I  last  laid  before  the  Society  some  notes  on  the  avi-fauna 
of  New  Guinea,  I  have  been  fortunate  enough  to  secure  large  and 
important  collections  of  birds  from  the  interior  portion  of  the  east 
end  of  the  island,  inland  from  Port  Moresby,  collected  at  the 
foot  of,  and  on  the  slopes  of  Mount  Astrolabe  range.  The  first 
portion  of  these  collections  was  obtained  from  Mr.  Charles 
Hunstein,  and  is  extremely  interesting,  showing  that  as  we  ascend 
the  mountains  to  higher  altitudes,  we  meet  with  species  which 
were  previously  only  known  from  Mount  Afak,  in  the  north-west 
island,  such  as  Grallinahrugni,  Oreocharis^  Dipliyllodes  chrysoptera, 
Phiogcenas  rufigula,  and  many  others. 

There  were  comparatively  few  new  species  in  this  portion  of  the 
collection,  but  it  contained  many  that  were  not  previously  known 
from  that  portion  of  the  island  ;  nevertheless  I  obtained  a  new 
species  of  Sericornis,  a  genus  which,  as  far  as  I  know,  had  not  been 
previously  recorded  from  New  Guinea.  The  Grallina  also  proved 
of  interest,  as  one  sex  only  of  this  species  was  previously  known. 


16      CONTRIBUTIONS  TO  THE  ZOOLOGY  OF  NEW  GUINEA, 

A  beautiful  pigeon,  Otidiphaps  cervicalis,  was  found  to  be- 
plentiful  on  the  slopes  of  the  range,  making  a  second  species  of 
this  genus.  It  is  very  remarkable  to  observe  how  closely  the 
a vi- fauna  of  the  whole  of  New  Guinea  resembles  that  of  Australia. 
Bower-birds,  cat-birds,  paradise  biids,  pittas,  hawks,  owls,  goat- 
suckers and  podargi,  segotheles,  swallows  and  swifts,  parrots, 
fly-catchers,  pigeons,  a  host  of  genera,  and  many  species  are 
common  to  both  countries — while  recently  such  genera  as 
Sericornis,  Orthonyx,  Climacteris,  Sitella,  Eurostopodus,  Eopsalt 
ria,  Drymodes,  Grallina,  Aprosmictus,  Micrseca,  and  others 
supposed  to  be  strictly  Australian,  have  also  been  found  there  ;  the 
same  may  be  said  of  the  mammals,  of  which  several  genera,  e.  g., 
Hydromys,  Dasyurus  and  Antechinus,  are  common  to  both 
countries. 

But  to  return  to  our  recent  acquisitions,  I  have  received  from 
Mr.  Wilson  of  Mason  Bros,  collections  containing  over  1,000 
skins  collected  by  Messrs.  BoUes  and  Hunstein,  and  other 
members  of  Mr.  Goldie  s  party ;  I  have  also  been  permitted  to 
examine  a  collection  lately  added  to  the  extensive  collection  at 
Elizabeth  Bay,  and  from  these  sources,  I  have  drawn  up  the 
following  list  of  species  not  recorded  in  my  previous  lists.  T  was 
much  pleased  to  find  adult  males  of  the  beautiful  Paradise  Bird, 
Drepanornis  d'Alhertisi  \  as  least  such  we  must  call  it  until  I 
can  make  a  careful  comparison  with  the  type,  although  taking  the 
description  in  detail,  it  does  not  altogether  exactly  agree  with 
Dr.  Sclater's  description  of  D'Albertis's  original  specimens. 

An  interesting  novelty  occurs  in  a  very  distinct  species  of 
Eurostopodus.  I  believe  this  is  the  first  occurrence  of  the  genus 
on  the  island,  for  there  seems  to  be  considerable  doubt  as  to 
E.  alhogularis  (viz,  Horsf.)  ever  having  been  obtained  in  the 
Papuan  region,  although  we  have  recently  described  a  specimen 
from  the  Solomon  Islands.  Another  fine  novelty  is  a  handsome 
Paradise  Bird,  between  P.  sanguinea  and  P.  raggiana.  This  new 
species,  which  comes  from  D'Entrecasteaux  Island,  I  have  named 
in  honour  of  the  amiable  wife  of  the  Hon.  W.  Macleay. 


BY    E.    P.    RAMSAY,    F.L.S.  17 

Mammals. — Dendrolagus  Dorianus,  sp.,  nov. 

General  colour  uniform  dark  brown  all  over,  becoming  black 
on  the  hands  and  feet,  which  are  fringed  with  longer  black  hair  ; 
the  palms  of  the  hands  and  soles  of  the  feet  covered  with  depressed, 
flat,  somewhat  hexagonal  tubercles,  a  very  indistinct  dorsal  stripe, 
blackish  ;  tail  black,  an  irregular  light  rufous  or  fawn-coloured 
patch  on  the  tail  near  the  base,  the  hair  of  the  tail  comparatively 
short,  close  stiff  and  harsh  to  the  touch,  black  or  slightly  inter- 
spersed with  a  few  grisly  hairs  ;  hair  of  body  dense,  long,  apparently 
of  one  kind  only,  erect  between  the  shoulders ;  shorter  on  the 
neck,  on  the  head  very  short,  paler  than  on  the  body,  and  inclined 
to  be  woolly ;  muffle  blackish,  covered  with  short  depressed 
whiskers,  short,  weak,  black  hairs,  margin  of  nostrils  only  naked. 
Ears  very  short ;  densely  covered  at  the  base,  inside  and  out, 
with  woolly  hair  like  that  of  the  head,  of  a  dark  brown,  becoming 
blackish  on  the  tips  and  margin. 

In  a  female  the  hair  of  the  tail  is  very  long,  mixed  with  long 
reddish-brown  hairs,  and  forming  a  tuft  produced  beyond  the  tips. 
In  both  adults  and  young,  the  fawn-coloured  patch  on  the  tail  is 
chestnut.  The  whole  of  the  hair  on  the  body  is  reversed,  and 
meeting  that  of  the  head,  which  is  directed  backwards,  forms  a 
ridge  between  the  ears  and  down  the  sides  of  the  cheeks,  and  is 
similarly  directed  on  the  limbs,  the  hair  on  the  legs  and  arms 
being  directed  forwards  as  is  usual.  The  limbs  are  heavy  and  very 
strong,  the  arms  rather  long,  the  legs  short  and  stout. 

Total  length  to  the  root  of  the  tail,  2  feet,  5 -5  inches;  the  tail 

24  inches,  wrist  and  hand  2*5   inches,    mid  finger   1-3  inch,  its 

nail  1-2  inch,  along  the  curve  1-5  inch;  forearm,  ulna  4-6  inches, 

radius    5*5    inches,  humerus    4'6    inches,   scapula   to   tip   of   the 

acromion  process,  3-7  inches  ;    tibia  (measured  outside  the  skin), 

5  inches ;    foot  (measured    outside),   4*2   inches.     Length   of    the 

skull,  5*2   inches;     of  the   zygomatic   arch,    outside,    2-7    inches, 

inside  2  inches;  across  the  skull  in  front,  I'.l   inch,  base  of  skull 

1-8  inch.^ 

*  The  teeth  and  all  the  bones  of  the  skull  are  in  a  very  bad  state,  being 
corroded  by  the  liquid  in  which  the  skin  was  preserved ;  few  of  the  bones 
can  be  measured  accurately. 
B 


18  CONTRIBUTIONS    TO    THE    ZOOLOGY    OF    NEA\    GUINEA, 

Distance  from  the  outer  margin  of  the  first  incisor  to  th^ 
hinder  margin  of  the  third  molar,  3  inches  ;  from  same  point  to 
the  first  pre-molar,  1*4  inch;  from  same  to  centre  of  canine  O'T 
inch;  extent  of  the  three  incisors,  0-55;  width  of  the  palate 
between  the  pre-molars,  0*9  ;  between  the  first  molars,  0"95  inch  ; 
between  the  third  molars,  0*95  inch  ;  extent  of  the  whole  series, 
1.6  inch.  Mandible,  extent  of  the  whole  pre-molar  and  molar 
series,  1*6  inch  ;  first  (permanent)  pre-molar,  04;  total  length  of 
the  mandible  from  the  base  of  the  incisor  tooth  to  condyle,  3*4 
inches. 

Three  specimens  of  this  fine  species  were  brought  by  the  natives 
to  Mr.  Goldie  during  his  last  collecting  trip  to  the  ranges  behind 
Mt.  Astrolabe. 

I  have  named  this  species  in  honor  of  the  Marquis  of  Doria, 
from  whose  papers,  with  those  of  Dr.  Peters,  I  have  gained 
valuable  information  on  Papuan  Zoology. 

Hapalotis  Papuanus,  sp.  nov.     PL  11. 

Length  from  tip  of  snout  to  root  of  tail  12  inches,  the  tail  9*9 
inches,  fore  foot  and  toes  I'l  inches,  hind  foot  and  toes,  2-3  inches, 
the  head  2*7  inches,  the  ear  1  inch,  from  snout  to  eye  1*4  inch, 
from  snout  to  ear  2*5  inches  (measurements  taken  from  dry 
skin).  There  are  three  large  tubercles  at  the  base  of  the  fingers, 
one  at  the  base  of  the  thumb  and  one  opposite  it  at  the  root  of 
the  little  finger  (See  plate  \\,fig.  1),  on  the  soles  of  the  hind  feet 
there  are  seven  tubercles,  arranged  as  shown  in  fig.  3. 

The  tail  is  bare,  scaly,  covered  with  four-sided  irregular-shaped 
scales  {See  fig.  5). 

Head — distance  between  the  anterior  margin  of  incisor  and 
occipital  condyles,  2*75  inches;  breadth  across  basal  portion  of 
zogomatic  arches,  1*2  inch.  Extent  of  molar  series,  0*49  inch; 
the  fore  and  aft  extent  of  first  molar,  0*21  inch,  of  the  second 
0*16  inch,  of  the  third  0*1  inch;  width  of  palate  between  the 
first  molars,  0*4  inch. 


BY    E.    P.     RAMSAY,    F.L.S.  19 

Lower  Jaw — Length  of  the  rami,  M8  inch  ;  from  base  of  lower 
incisor  to  the  first  molar,  0'5  inch  ;  extent  of  molar  series,  0-49 
inch;  from  third  molar  to  condyle,  0-75  inch;  first  molar,  0-2 
inch;  second  molar,  0-15  inch;  third  molar,  0-1  inch. 

The  fur  is  blackish  down  the  back,  mixed  with  a  few  reddish- 
brown  hairs,  brown  on  the  sides  and  white  on  the  belly  and  on  the 
inner  side  of  the  limbs  ;  feet  and  hands  light  brown,  sparingly 
covered  with  very  short  hairs ;  whiskers  very  long  and  black,  4*5. 
There  is  also  a  slight  rufescent  tinge  on  the  rump  and  thighs. 

Birds. 
Poecilodryas  Sylvia,  s}).  nov. 
Sexes  alike  in  plumage  ;  general  color  black  ,  the  upper  and 
under  tail-coverts,  the  abdomen  and  an  oblong  or  semi-lunar 
shaped  patch  on  either  side  of  the  chest  white.  The  first  primary 
and  the  inner  webs  of  the  wing-feathers  blackish  brown,  under 
wing-coverts  at  the  base  of  the  primaries  whitish ;  bristles,  bill, 
legs,  and  feet,  black.  The  bill  is  strong,  the  white  patch  on  the 
sides  of  the  chest  silky.  Length,  4 '8  to  5  inches;  wing,  3-5  ;  tail, 
2-1  in.  ;  tarsus,  0'82  ;  bill  from  forehead,  0'65  ;  from  gape,  0*7  ; 
height  at  nostrils,  0*2;  breadth  at  nostrils,  0'2.     Mount  Astrolabe. 

Myzomela  Eques,  var. 

Adult  iwile. — The  whole  of  the  plumage,  except  the  throat  and 
chin,  dull  dark  brown,  slightly  lighter  on  the  under  wing-coverts  ; 
chin  and  throat  rich  bright  glossy  crimson,  bill  and  legs  blackish 
brown. 

The  female  like  the  male,  but  slightly  lighter  in  color  and  with 
no  crimson  on  the  chin  or  throat.  Length  of  skin,  5*2  inches  ; 
wing,  3-1  in.  ;  tail,  2-65  in.  ;  tarsus,  0*75  ;  bill  from  the  forehead, 
0-9,  from  gape,  0-9. 

This  species  answers  to  the  description  of  the  male  of  M.  eques, 
but  the  specimen  said  to  be  a  female  has  no  red  on  the  throat,  nor 
does  this  female  specimen  agree  with  the  young  of  M.  eques  ;  it  is 
on  the  whole  a  larger  bird. 


20      CONTRIBUTIONS  TO  THE  ZOOLOGY  OF  NEW  GUINEA, 

Erytliura  trichroa,  var  ? 

All  the  upper  and  under  surface  grass-green,  slightly  paler  on 
the  under  surface,  the  forehead  and  sides  of  the  face  extending 
over  the  ear-coverts  blue  ;  wings  blackish  brown,  outer  webs  above 
of  the  quills  margined  with  green,  the  inner  webs  below  dull  buff ; 
underwing-coverts  buff ;  thighs  buff ;  tail  blackish  brown  ',  the 
centre  two  feathers  and  the  outer  webs  of  the  remainder,  except 
the  outermost  two,  are  margined  with  dull  red  ;  upper  tail-coverts 
dull  red  ;  under  tail-coverts  green  ;  bill  black  ;  legs  dull  brown. 
Length,  4  to  5  inches;  wing,  2"5  ;  tail,  1*9  ;  tarsus,  0'7  ;  bill, 
0-5  ;  gape,  0-53. 

This  species  is  closely  allied  to  if  not  identical  with  E.  trichroa, 
Kittl,  but  my  siDecimens  differ  from  Mr.  Wallace's  description  of 
E.  modesta  in  not  having  any  yellow  on  the  sides  of  the  neck. 

Eurostopodus  Astrolabas,  nov.  sp. 
Head  and  neck  dark  brown,  the  feathers  centred  by  a  lanceolate 
stripe  of  black  and  freckled  with  ashy ;  those  on  the  hind  neck 
margined  or  tipped  here  and  there  with  rufous  ;  small  feathers  in 
front  of  the  eye  above  and  below,  and  on  the  throat  and  the  ear- 
coverts  black  strongly  tipped  with  rufous ;  a  black  streak  below 
the  eye,  scapulars  and  adjacent  feathers  of  the  interscapular  region 
rich  light  rufous,  heavily  blotched  exteriorly  with  black,  the  rufous 
portions  freckled  w^ith  narrow  zigzag  and  wavy  lines  of  black  ;  the 
larger  series  of  the  scapulars  blackish  with  ill-defined  rufous  cross- 
bands,  the  adjacent  secondaries  blackish-brown,  banded  only  on 
the  inner  webs  with  rufous,  the  bands  reduced  to  spots  and  finally 
lost  on  the  three  first  secondaries  ;  primaries  blackish  brown,  the 
median  ones  only  with  one  to  two  rufous  dots  on  the  margin  of 
the  outer  web  ;  no  trace  of  the  white  blotch  usually  found  on  the 
wings  of  other  species  known.  The  upper  wing-coverts  blackish 
brown  tipped  with  rufous  and  white ;  the  back,  rump  and  upper 
tail-coverts  dark  brown,  marked  with  ashy  and  pale  rufous,  and 
indistinctly  barred  with  black  lateral  expansions  of  the  central 
black  line ;  tail  blackish  brown,  barred  strongly  on  the  inner  webs 
and  spotted  on  the  outer,  with  rufous   irregular  markings ;  the 


BY    E.    P.    RAMSAY,    F.L.S.  21 

central  two  feathers  tipped  and  barred  obliquely  with  black,  the 
interspaces  freckled  with  ashy  rufous  ;  the  under  surface  of  the 
tail  black,  the  bars  showing  conspicuously  (the  two  outermost  on 
either  side  lost)  ;  under  tail-coverts  black  barred  with  light  rufous 
or  deep  buff;  flanks,  belly  and  breast  strongly  spotted  at  the  tip 
of  each  feather,  and  barred  with  light  rufous  or  deep  buff,  forming 
scale-like  markings  ;  feathers  of  the  chest  blackish,  alternately 
barred  with  irregular  wavy  lines  of  rufous  and  black  ;  throat 
patch  white,  the  lateral  feathers  tipped  with  rufous  ;  under  wing- 
coverts  blackish  brown,  spotted,  tipped  or  barred  with  rufous, 
Legs  reddish  brown  ;  bill  black  at  the  tip,  brown  at  base  and  sides. 

Total  length  about  9*5  in.  ;  wing,  7*6  in.  ;  tail,  5-5  in.  ;  tarsus, 
0*55  in  ;  mid  toe,  0*7  in.  ;  bill,  from  forehead,  0'7in. ;  from 
nostril,  0'3  in. ;  from  gape,  I'l  in. 

The  chief  characteristics  of  this  species  are  the  rufous  markings 
of  the  throat  and  chest,  the  scale-like  markings  on  the  abdomen 
and  flanks,  and  the  absence  of  the  usually  found  large  white  or 
rouf us  spots  on  the  primaries,  and  the  rufous  collar.  Two  specimens 
only  from  Astrolabe  Range.     (Hunstein  &  Rolls). 

Aegotheles?  plumifera,  sp.  nov. 

This  bird  differs  from  jEgotheles  Bennettii  in  having  the  face, 
throat,  chest,  and  flanks  washed  with  rufous  brown,  barred 
distinctly  with  black,  an  ashy  spot  at  the  angle  of  the  mouth  ;  the 
head  is  also  washed  with  rufous,  the  collar  ashy  white  freckled 
and  barred  with  black  ;  the  tail  with  from  12  to  14  narrow  broken 
bars.  Length,  7  in. ;  wing,  4'5  ;  tail,  4-2  in.  ;  tarsus,  0*8  ;  bill 
from  gape,  1  in.  The  cheek  plumes  much  elongated,  the  tips  of 
the  feathers  decomposed  and  lengthened  ;  bristles,  black,  long  from 
1  in.  to  15  in.  in  length. 

Paradisea  Susannse,  sp.  nov. 

Bill  lead-blue  margined  and  tipped  with  yellowish  white ;  a 
narrow  band  across  the  forehead  bordering  the  anterior  margin 
of  the  eye,  the  whole  of  the  chin  and  the  throat  rich  metallic  green  ; 
feathers  on    the   forehead   and    chin  erect   and  velvety    black  in 


22  CONTRIBUTIONS    TO    THE    ZOOLOGY    OF   NEW    GUINEA, 

certain  lights,  but  with  a  slight  purplish  tinge  in  others  ;  the 
remainder  of  the  head,  neck,  back,  mantle,  rump,  upper  tail-and- 
wing-coverts  light  glistening  orange-yellow  tinged  with  pale 
chrome-yellow  on  the  head,  lightest  and  brightest  on  the  rump 
and  upper  tail-coverts.  Tail  and  wings  brown,  the  outer  margins 
of  the  secondaries  and  of  the  greater  series  of  the  coverts  washed 
with  yellow  like  the  back  ;  shafts  of  the  quills  reddish  brown  ; 
margins  on  the  under  surface  and  the  greater  series  of  the  under 
coverts  and  adjacent  feathers  rich  pinkish  cinnamon  brown.  The 
feathers  of  the  chest  pinkish  cinnamon  colour  at  the  base,  bluish 
ashy  grey  on  the  surface,  abdomen  and  thighs  ;  dull  light  grey 
tinged  with  pinkish  cinnamon ;  plumes  from  above  the  flanks 
blood  red  with  the  ends  of  the  feathers  ashy  white,  a  short  tuft  of 
anterior  plumes  of  the  same  tint,  but  becoming  black  at  the  ends  of 
the  feathers  over  the  base  of  the  primary  plumes  and  incurved, 
their  points  meeting  on  the  abdomen  and  ending  abruptly,  not 
graduated  towards  the  primary  plumes.  The  two  centre  wire- 
like tail-feathers  black,  the  webs  at  the  tips  brown,  the  webbed 
portion  at  the  base  metallic  green  ;  the  green  of  the  throat  is 
separated  from  the  chest  by  a  narrow  line  of  cinnamon  buff ;  legs 
bluish  lead  colour  with  a  pinkish  tinge  when  alive.  This  species 
is  very  distinct  from  Faradisea  Raggiana,  although  the  colour  of 
the  plumes  is  almost  the  same,  but  the  tips  of  the  feathers  end  in 
the  same  way  as  those  of  P.  sanguinea.  The  velvet  green  chin- 
patch  extends  more  than  half  way  down  the  throat  on  P. 
Raggiana.  There  are  no  anterior  tufts  of  plumes.  The  under 
surface  of  these  tufts  are  of  a  fiery  red  in  certain  lights. 

There  is  no  shoulder  bar  on  the  wings  of  this  new  species,  all 
the  coverts  beirg  tinged  with  yellow  ;  it  is  a  slightly  smaller 
bird  and  the  bill  is  weaker  than  in  P.  Raggiana. 

Adult  Female. — The  adult  female  resembles  the  young  male. 
In  the  former  the  two  centre  tail-feathers  do  not  reach  the  length 
of  those  on  either  side  of  them  ;  wings  and  tail  brown  above  and 
below,  basal  portion  of  the  inner  webs  of  the  quills  and  the 
under  wing-coverts  cinnamon  buff.  All  the  under  surface,  except 
the  throat,  which   is  blackish,  is  of  a   cinnamon  buff  deeper  in 


BY    E.    P.    RAMSAY,    F.L.S.  23 

tint  on  the  flanks  and  abdomen,  tlie  whole  surface  barred  with 
narrow  cross  lines  of  dark  brown. 

Head  dull  ochre  yellow  ;  back  and  all  the  upper  surface  brown, 
washed  with  a  duller  shade  of  the  same  tint. 

Youoiff  Male. — The  young  male,  somewhat  similar,  the  wire-like 
tail  feathers  subject  to  the  same  variations  in  progress  towards 
maturity  as  those  of  P.  apoda  and  others  of  this  genus  ;  the 
bluish  ashy  grey  of  the  chest  shows  at  an  early  stage.  This 
magnificent  species  was  first  met  with  by  Mr.  Rolles,  who  was 
fortunate  in  shooting  a  pair  of  fine  adult  males  on  the  Island  of 
D'Entrecasteaux. 

"Rhamphomantis  rollesi,  sp.  nov. 

General  color. — Head  and  neck,  a  stripe  from  the  angle  of  the 
mouth  on  the  other  side  of  the  throat  to  below  the  ear-coverts 
black,  with  greenish  metallicjreflections  ;  a  narrow  white  line  from 
the  nostrils  to  the  base  of  the  ear-coverts,  throat  and  ear-coverts, 
rufous ;  under  surface  of  the  wings  and  under  wing-coverts  pale 
cinnamon  buff";  the  remainder  of  the  under  surfaces  of  the  body  and 
the  under  tail-coverts  light  brown  tinged  with  light  cinnamon 
buff ;  all  the  upper  surface  rich  brown,  glossy  ;  traces  of  rufous 
margins  on  the  wing  coverts  and  quills  ;  under  the  surface  of  the  tail 
and  anterior  portions  of  the  quills  brown  ;  bill  black  ;  legs  lead  blue. 

Male. — Length,  7*5  ;  wing,  4-2  ;  tail,  4  in.  ;  tarsus,  0-75  ;  bill 
from  forehead    0.75  ;  from  gape,  0*83, 

Female. — Rich  glossy  1)rown  all  over,  strongly  washed  with 
rufous  on  the  margin  of  the  feathers  ;  all  the  feathers  except  the 
quills  and  tail  barred  indistinctly  with  ashy  ;  throat  ashy  white 
barred  with  blackish  brown  on  the  forehead,  a  narrow  white 
stripe  forming  shaftlines  from  the  nostrils  to  below  the  ear-coverts  ; 
below  the  eye  a  narrow  ashy  white  line;  there  are  a  few  ashy  white 
freckles  on  the  hind  neck ;  all  the  under  surface  of  the  body  brown 
washed  with  rufous  buff  and  having  narrow  cross  lines  of  a 
brownish  tint  ;  remains  of  blackish  cross  bars  on  some  of  the  tail 
feathers  ',  under  wing-coverts  and  webs  of  the  quills  pale  cinnamon 
buff  bill  brackish  brown;  legs  lead- blue. 


24      CONTRIBUTIONS  TO  THE  ZOOLOGY  OF  NEW  GUINEA, 

FeTJiale. —l^ength,  7*2;  wing,  4  in.;  tail,  3.7;  tarsus,  0'75  ; 
bill  from  forehead,  0*8  ;  from  angle  of  mouth,  0-85. 

Only  one  pair  of  this  species  was  obtained  shot  by  Mr.  Rolles  on 
Mount  Astrolabe. 

Melanocharis  bicolor,  Rainsay,  P.L.S.,  N.S.W.,  Vol.  Ill,  j!?.  277. 
There  are  several  species  of  this  bird  in  the  collection,    adult 
males  and  females.       The  whole  of  the   under  wing-coverts  and 
axillaries  pure  silky-white  as  in  the  type. 

Sitella  albifrons,  sp  nov. 
All  the  head  and  chest  silky-white,  including  the  ear-coverts  ; 
the  upper  tail-covei"ts  white,  most  of  them  with  a  large  lanceolate 
stripe  of  black  down  the  centre ;  tail  blackish  brown  ;  under  tail- 
coverts  blackish,  broadly  margined  and  tipped  with  white. 
Feathers  of  the  rump  adjacent  to  the  upper  tail-coverts  white,  the 
outer  three  feathers  of  the  tail  largely  tipped  with  white,  the 
fourth  and  fifth  very  slightly  ;  wings  blackish  brown,  the  first 
five  of  the  primaries  with  a  small  spot  of  white  on  the  margin 
of  the  inner  webs,  which  forms  a  spot  of  white  on  the  under 
surface  of  the  wing,  indistinct  in  some  speciuiens,  more  distinct  in 
others.  Small  spot  of  white  on  the  under  wing-coverts  at  the 
base  of  the  primaries  ;  the  lower  part  of  the  chest  and  the 
remainder  surface  of  the  body  silky-white,  with  a  broad  streak  of 
blackish  brown  down  the  centre  of  each  feather  ;  back  and  rump 
dark  brown,  the  feather  centred  with  a  blackish  brown  stripe  ; 
bill  yellow  at  the  base,  black  at  the  tip,  under  wing-coverts 
blackish  brown  ;  legs  and  feet  yellow.  Young  birds  are  much 
browner  and  the  white  portions  washed  with  ashy. 

Total  length  about...  ...     4-2 

Wing  3-4 

Tail  1-65 

Tarsus         ...  ...  ...        '6 

Bill  from  forehead  ...        '5 

Eah. — Table-lands  of  Mount  Astrolabe,  about  3000  feet  above 
the  sea  level ;  met  with  in  flocks  among  the  Eucalyptus  trees ; 
distance  from  the  coast  15  miles.     Inland  high,     [Rolles.') 


BY    E.    P.    RAMSAY,    F.L.S.  25 

^■Elur^edus    melanocephalus,  sp.  nov. 

I  have  comi)ared  a  large  number  of  jEluroedus  from  Mount 
Astrolabe  flange,  with  both  ^.  arfacki  and  jE.  melanotus, 
and  find  that  it  differs  from  the  first  in  having  the  whole  of  the 
head,  nape,  and  mantle  spotted  ;  from  the  second,  ^E.  Melanotus, 
in  having  a  jet  black  head  with  small  round  fulvous  spots  in  the 
centre  of  the  feathers  ;  lores  and  ear-coverts  black ;  there  are  only- 
indications  of  spots  on  the  wing  coverts  and  tips  of  secondaries  ; 
the  whole  of  the  under  surface  is  washed  with  yellowish  ochre, 
the  throat  and  chest  only  distinctly  spotted.  This  bird  is  quite 
distinct  from  Mr.  Gould's  plates  of  the  both  above-mentioned 
species  ;  the  under  surface  of  the  tail  feathers  have  a  decided 
greenish  blue  tinge  on  the  margins  of  the  inner  webs,  the  feathers 
all  largely  tipped  with  white. 

On  comparison  with  Mr.  Gould's  plates  and  Mr.  Sharpe's 
description,  (Cat.  of  Bds„  Vol.  VT.),  I  think  sufficient  distinction 
will  be  found  to  warrant  this  species  being  separated  from  all 
other  known  species.  Total  length  11-5,  wing  6  in.,  tail  5  in., 
tarsus  1*6,  bill  1*3,  from  gape  1"46. 

Rab.  —  Mount  Astrolale,  N.G.     Hunstein,  A.  Rolles. 

For  the  pleasure  of  describing  these  species  I  am  indebted  to  the 
Hon.  William  Macleay,  who  purchased  them  with  a  collection   of 

birds  of  Mr.  Goldie. 

Manucodia  atra. 

There  are  two  specimens  of  eggs  said  to  belong  to  this  bird,  in 
length  1-3  in.  in  breadth  ;  the  ground  color  is  a  light  greenish  grey 
crowded  with  dots  and  spots  of  brown  or  reddish  brown,  and  dark 
slate  grey. 

In  a  second  specimen  the  ground  color  is  almost  wholly 
obscured  by  freckles  of  dull  rich  brown.     {Mr.  Macleay' s  Coll.) 

Paecilodryas  albifacies  (Sharpe.) 

A  neat  cup- shaped  nest  like  that  of  all  the  genus;  it  is  composed  of 

wiry    rootlets,   pieces  of  dry   palm    leaves,  &c.     The  margins  are 

ornamented  with  green  mosses  ;  it  is  placed  between  upright  forks 

of  the  branches  ;  the  inside  is  very  deep,  1-6  in.,  the  whole  height 


26      CONTRIBUTIONS  TO  THE  ZOOLOGY  OF  NEW  GUINEA, 

of  the  nest  being  2-6  x  2*3  in.  across.  The  eggs,  two  in  number  are 
of  a  greenish  white,  spangled  all  over  with  reddish  dots  and  spots^ 
but  closer  together  on  the  thicker  end.      (Mr.  Macleay's  Coll.) 

Eupetes  (Circeloroma)  Ajax. 

Egg  oval,  rather  short,  length  1-2  in.  x  0-95  in.  of  a  light  stone 
color  heavily  blotched,  spotted,  dotted  with  irregular  shaped  marks 
of  black,  blackish  brown  and  slate  grey,  one  specimen  has  a  large 
blotch  of  slate  grey  on  the  top  of  the  thicker  end.  (i/r.  Madeaifs 
Coll.) 

Paradisea  Rageriana. 

The  nest  is  a  flat,  open,  and  a  rather  scanty  structure  of  wiry 
twigs  and  roots,  it  is  placed  and  worked  into  a  platform  of  vines 
stretched  across  a  small  fork  ;  it  is  6  in.  across  at  the  widest  part, 
and  the  inside  diameter  3'6  in.,  the  height  of  the  whole  structure 
3  inches.  The  egg  oval,  rather  pointed,  of  a  creamy  tint,  or  light 
buff;  there  are  a  few  spots  on  the  thin  end  of  a  reddish  brown ;  on 
the  thick  end  the  spots  are  closer  together  and  mixed  with  dashes 
and  long  narrow  tear-shaped  markings,  and  longitudinal  streaks 
from  the  thick  end  towards  the  thin,  which  vary  in  color  from 
reddish  brown  to  salmon  brown,  some  with  a  yellowish  tint  and 
others  of  slate  grey  being  obsolete ;  there  are  also  a  few  dots  and 
small  spots  of  the  same  colors  sprinkled  over  the  surface  of  the 
shell.     Length,  1-45  in.  ;  short  diameter,  0-95  in. 

Rectus  ferruginea. 
The  eggs  are  long  ovals  of  a  pinkish  chocolate  color,  sparingly 
sprinkled  ^vith    blackish    and    slate-blue    spots  and    dots  on   the 
thinner  end,  but  closer  on  the  thicker  end. — {Mr.  Madeay's  Coll.) 

Talegallus    pyrrhopygius. 
White  like  the  egg  of  Talegallus  lathaml,  finely  grained,  length 
3-65  X  1-2>.—{Madeay  Coll.) 

Goura  d'Albertisi. 
The  eggs  are  white,  long  oval  in  shape  ;  length  2*4  x  1-55  in. — 
(^Madeay  Coll.) 


BY   E.    P.    RAMSAY,    F.L.S.  27 

Casuarius  (beccari  ?) 
Egg  5-3    inches  by    3-3    in.      The  ground   color   is  of  a   dull 
greenish  brown ;  the  raised  irregular  surface  of  a  rich  deep  bright 
green. — (Macleay  Coll.) 

The  following  spef^ies  of  birds'  eggs  were  collected  by  Mr, 
Hunstein,  and  kindly  forwarded  to  me  by  Mr.  Wilson,  of  Mason 
Brothers  : — 

Microglossus    aterrimus. 

Taken  from  a  hollow  branch  or  the  hollow  bole  of  a  large  tree 
at  about  25  feet  from  the  ground.  There  was  only  one  egg  on 
the  debris  at  the  bottom  of  this  hollow  ;  the  bird  seen  to  fly  from 
the  hole  and  shot  proved  to  be  the  female  The  tree  was  situated 
in  the  open  forest  country  on  the  Astrolabe  Range.  The  egg  is 
white,  pointed  at  the  thin  end,  rounded  at  the  thicker  end. 

Length,  2  inches  ;  diameter  near  the  thicker  end,  1  -4  in. 

Otidiphaps  cervicalis. — Ramsay. 

The  nest  was  a  depression  in  the  debris  of  leaves,  which 
accumulated  in  the  angles  formed  by  the  "spurs"  or  buttresses 
of  scrub  trees.  Egg  only  one,  bird  shot  from  nest  as  she  flew 
off.  Egg  white  ;  almost  a  true  oval,  evenly  rounded  at  both  ends, 
glossy.     Length,  1*92  x  1-25  in. 

This   is  very    like   the    egg   of  a    Podargus. 

Hah.    Astrolabe  Ranges. 

Ptilopus  bellus. — Sclater.  "  Bebora." 
The  nest  is  a  very  scanty  platform  of  sticks  through  which  the 
eggs  can  be  seen  ;  it  is  placed  on  a  horizontal  bough  about  6  to  1 0 
feet  from  the  ground  ;  none  contained  more  than  one  egg.  The 
eggs  are  very  small  for  the  size  of  the  bird  ;  they  are  oval  and  of 
a  dull  white  or  light  cream. 

Length,  1-2  xO-9  in.  ;  M  x  0-86  in  ;  length,  M8  xO-93  in. 
Astrolabe  Ranges. 


'o^ 


Macropygia  Doreya. — JBpt.  "  Cuaor  Kua." 
Eggs  vary  from  long  ovals  to  swollen  ovals  ;  dull  white. 


Length,  1-2  x  0-93  ;  1-23  x  0-87 


28      CONTRIBUTIONS  TO  THE  ZOOLOGY  OF  NEW  GUINEA, 

Collyriocincla  rufigaster. — Gould. 

The  eggs,  two  in  number,  like  those  of  the  same  species  from 
Cape  York  ;  white,  thickly  sprinkled  over  the  surface  with  dull 
slate-coloured  and  grey  freckles,  closer  towards  the  thick  end, 
where  they  form  a  zone  or  a  crowded  patch  on  the  tip. 

Scrubs  on  the  Goldie  E-iver. 

Ptilopus  superbus. 
Eggs— white,    oval,    length    1-2  x  0-88,   1-23  x  0-87,  slightly 
swollen  in  the  centre. 

Ptilopus   pulchellus. 

White,  oblong,  oval,  equally  rounded  at  both  ends,  length 
M  xO-75. 

Carpophaga  poliura. — Salvad. 

Oval,  pointed  at  thin  end,  dull  white  ;  length  1-26  x  0-86. 
Lalokie  Scrubs. 

Caprimulgus  Macrourus. 

Three  eggs,  two  for  a  sitting;  length  a  1'15  x  0  86,  b  1*15  x  0'86, 
from  same  bird.  The  3rd,  1-06  x  0-8 9c,  is  a  smaller  egg,  and 
found  by  itself,  1-06  x  0*8     A.11  were  jilaced  on  the  ground. 

They  are  of  a  light  creamy,  with  obscure  dull  slate  grey  spots, 
and  a  zone  of  similar  spots  round  the  larger  end  (a).  No.  9  b,  has 
no  zone. ,  No.  9  c,  the  smallest,  has  the  spots  more  evenly  dispersed 
over  the  surface. 

Drepanornis  d'  Albertisi. 

The  nest  is  a  thin,  rather  flat  structure,  built  between  a 
horizontal  bough  in  the  fork  of  a  thin  branch  ;  it  has  a  slight 
depression  about  1  inch  deep,  a  nei-work  of  wire  rootlets  are 
stretched  across  the  fork,  and  the  nest  proper  built  on  them  ;  it  is 
compossd  of  wiry  grasses  of  a  light  reddish  brown  color,  the 
platform  being  of  black  wiry  roots. 

The  egg  is  in  length  1-37,  by  one  inch  in  breadth  ;  it  is  of  a  light 
dull  cream  color,  with  a  reddish  tinge,  spotted  all  over  with  oblong 
dashes  of  reddish  browo  and  light  purplish  grey,  closer  on  the 
thick  end. 


BY    E.    P.    RAMSAY,    F.L.S.  29 

Mr.  Hnnstein  informs  me  that  he  shot  the  female  bird  on  the 
nest,  and  that  there  cannot  be  any  possibility  of  a  mistake  as  to 
its  authenticity,  which  judging  from  the  state  the  egg  was  in,  I  can 
quite  believe. 


On    Some    Habits    of    Pelopceus   L.«tus  and    a   Species   of 

Lahrada. 
By  H.  Kawes  Whittell,  Esq. 

On  the  2nd  January,  1880,  numbers  of  a  species  of  hornet, 
Pelojyoeus  ketus,  took  possession  of  our  fireplace  for  the  purpose  of 
constructing  their  nests.  I  began  to  observe  their  movements, 
confining  my  attention  principally  to  one  pair ;  this  pair  readily 
decided  upon  a  site,  and  began  to  build  by  securing  thereon  a 
shapeless  mass  of  mud  about  half  a  square  inch  in  area,  which 
they  brought  in  small  portions  from  the  bank  of  the  Darling 
River,  which  was  close  by. 

One  of  them  worked  out  a  shallow  circular  space,  similar  in 
shape  to  a  saucer,  using  its  mandibles,  tarsi  of  the  first  pair  of 
legs,  and  antennae  in  the  operation.  The  loads  of  mud  before 
deposited  almost  promiscuously,  are  now  arranged  by  each  one  on 
the  edge  of  this  saucer-shaped  cavity,  pressed  into  proper  shape 
and  thickness,  and  finished  ofi*  forthwith.  As  the  cell  grows,  the 
upper  portion  is  made  to  project  considerably  beyond  the  lower. 
This  is  convenient,  owing  to  the  position  they  assume ;  always 
getting  beneath  the  cell,  and  invariably  working  from  the  upper 
to  the  lower  portion. 

The  work  progresses  in  this  way  without  interruption  until  the 
cell  is  about  half  or  two-thirds  the  required  depth  ;  when  the 
owners  begin  to  insert  their  own  bodies  occasionally  evidently  to 
see  how  the  interior  is  for  size.  About  this  time  also  they  begin 
to  draw  out  the  lower  portion  of  the  cell,  to  a  more  nearly  equal 
distance  with  the  upper,  from  the  base  ;  it  is  also  further 
strengthened  by  mud  being  piled  on  the  top,  and  at  either  side. 
When  the  hornet  finds  that  the  cell  is  equal,  or  nearly  so,  in  depth 


30  ON    SOME    HABITS    OF    A    PELOPCEUS, 

to  its  own  length,  and  all  parts  of  the  edge  are  equally  distant 
from  the  base,  it  bends  in  the  outer  edge  until  the  aperture  barely 
admits  of  the  passage  of  its  own  body. 

Beneath  this  cell  are  built  two,  or  sometimes  three  others  in  a 
roughly  horizontal  row ;  then  another  row  containing  more  cells 
than  the  one  above  it,  and  so  on  until  the  nest  has  reached  the 
required  maximum  breadth ;  when  the  number  of  cells  in  each 
row  diminish,  until  on  the  completion  of  the  whole  it  is  in  shape 
a  rough  oval.  The  mandibles  appear  to  be  the  principal  building 
organs,  as  they  are  used  to  press  the  mud  to  any  required 
thickness.  The  anterior  tarsi  before  mentioned  and  the  antennae 
are  also  largely  used  ;  the  tarsi  support  the  load  of  building 
material,  which  is  about  the  size  and  shape  of  a  small  pea,  during 
transport;  they  also  assist  the  mandibles  in  shaping.  The 
antennae  are,  no  doubt,  the  final  smoothing  and  polishing 
instruments ;  they  beat  the  mud  with  such  velocity  as  to  render 
their  motion  almost  invisible,  and  create  a  loud  humming  noise. 

I  may  remark  here,  that  in  the  construction  of  cells,  the 
antennae  do  not  appear  to  be  the  organs  of  sensation,  which 
determine  when  the  wall  of  the  cell  has  arrived  at  the  required 
thickness.  The  anterior  tarsi,  judging  from  their  movements, 
perform  this  office  ;  from  which  it  would  appear  that  in  Pelopoeus 
Icetus  these  tarsi  are  capable  of  conveying  sensation,  of  a  kind 
usually,  I  believe,  accredited,  in  all  insects,  to  the  antennae  alone. 

On  one  occasion,  while  the  hornets  were  in  search  of  more 
material,  I  pressed  a  portion  of  the  edge  of  a  cell,  in  course  of 
construction,  out  of  shape.  On  the  return  of  the  fiist  one  the 
damage  was  detected,  apparently  by  sight,  almost  instantly ;  he 
seemed  for  a  time  quite  nonplussed,  but  presently  he  deposited 
and  arranged  his  load  in  another  place  and  then  repaired  damages. 

Again  I  repeated  this  experiment,  but  on  his  return  this  time 
he  showed  no  hesitation  whatever  ;  took  in  the  situation  at  a 
glance,  as  it  were  ;  deposited  and  arranged  his  load  on  the  intact 
portion  of  the  edge  of  the  cell,  then  repaired  the  damage.  He 
alighted  and  went  to  work  with  such  rapidity  that  I  thought  the 


BY    H.    RAWES    WHITTELL,    ESQ.  31 

damage  had  escaped  notice  in  the  latter  case,  and  I  was  much 
astonished  when,  as  soon  as  his  organs  were  at  liberty,  he  went 
to  the  other  side  of  the  cell  and  straightened  it  up. 

As  soon  as  each  individual  cell  is  completed,  work  in  cell 
building  is  suspended  until  the  spiders,  which  are  to  nourish  the 
embryo  are  collected,  and  the  ovum  deposited.  The  number  of 
spiders  stored  in  each  cell  varies  from  four  to  seven,  according  to 
their  size.  The  ova  are  always  deposited  on  the  under  surface 
of  the  abdomen  of  the  first  spider  placed  in  the  cells,  and  are 
firmly  attached  thereto,  the  female  entering  the  cell  backwards  to 
perform  this  office.  The  change  from  the  ovum  to  the  larva  is 
very  rapid,  but  I  cannot  state  with  certainty  as  to  the  time 
occupied,  possibly  within  twenty-four  hours. 

The  larvae  of  this  species  appears  to  live  by  suction  for  about 
fourteen  days,  devouring  all  the  soft  parts  of  the  spiders  first ; 
at  this  age  a  sharp,  strong,  pair  of  mandibles  are  distinctly  seen 
with  which,  in  almost  all  cases,  every  scrap  of  the  store  of  food 
both  hard  and  soft  which  remains  is  devoured.  In  the  course  of 
a  few  more  days  the  larva  spins  for  itself  a  cocoon  and  enters  the 
pupa  state,  attaining  the  imago  about  twenty-five  days  from  the 
time  the  egg  was  deposited. 

I  may  mention  that  I  sat  in  the  fireplace  to  conduct  my  obser- 
vations. I  have  frequently  watched  these  and  other  hornets  at 
work  at  a  distance  of  from  four  to  six  inches  from  my  face. 

On  the  20th  January,  1880,  I  examined  a  comj)lete  nest  of  this 
species  containing  thirty  six  cells.  The  average  number  of  spiders 
in  each  cell  was  five,  so  that  one  pair  of  these  hornets  destroy  one 
hundred  and  eighty  spiders  in  one  season. 

The  entrance  to  each  cell  is  closed  immediately  the  store  of  food 
contained  is  sufficient,  and  when  the  last  cell  is  closed,  both  hornets 
set  to  work  and  cover  the  whole  with  a  network  of  mud  ridges, 
giving  it  decidedly  an  ornamental  appearance. 

I  have  now  to  refer  to  a  singular  circumstance  connected  with 
tljis  species,  and  a  species  of  Larrada  probably  Larrada  Australis  % 


32  ON   SOME   HABITS    OF   A    PELOP(EUS, 

On  the  4th  January,  1880,  on  resuming  my  observations,  I  saw 
to  my  surprise  ;  that  two  cells  of  a  nest  of  Pelo2:)ceus  Icetus  which 
which  had  been  finally  closed,  and  were  intact  on  the  preceding 
day,  had  been  broken  open.  This  nest  had  been  finished  for  some 
time,  so  I  was  at  a  loss  to  account  for  the  re-opening,  but  the 
whole  was  exi:)lained  when  another  hornet,  Larrada  Australisj 
suddenly  emerged  from  one  of  these  cells.  This  hornet  kept 
running  in  and  out  of  these  cells  in  a  very  restless  manner, 
appearing  to  snatch  a  mouthful  of  something  each  time  it  entered, 
I  hastily  concluded  that  it  must  be  devouring  the  food  therein, 
and  fearing  to  lose  the  specimen  I  captured  and  transferred  it  to 
my  specimen  box  ;  I  place  it  on  the  table  for  inspection,  together 
with  a  specimen  of  Pelojyceics  Icetus. 

More  of  the  species  Larrada  Australis,  came  about  the  nests  of 
Pelopoeus  Iwtus  that  I  was  watching,  and  I  observed  several  more 
of  their  cells  broken  open  by  the  Larrada,  but  I  could  come 
to  no  satisfactory  conclusion,  as  to  their  real  object  in  pursuing 
this  predaceons  course  ;  until  the  18th  January,  1880.  I  then 
saw  one  of  this  species  deliberately  take  })Ossession  of  a  cell  of 
Felopoeits  Icetus,  on  which  they  were  at  work.  No  decided  attempt 
was  made  by  the  Pelopoeus,  to  regain  possession,  although  this 
cell  contained  its  own  ovum,  and  three  spiders.  Both  hornets 
skirmished  about  for  a  time,  each  seeming  afraid  of  the  other,  at 
last  Larrada  Australis  entered  the  cell,  and  settled  down  to  its 
work  without  further  opposition ;  the  aperture  of  this  cell  being 
much  larger  than  the  one  made  by  Larrada  Australis  itself, 
admitted  of  more  light,  so  I  determined  at  the  risk  of  a  sting  to 
find  out  what  was  going  on  inside  ;  I  accordingly  placed  my  eye 
right  close  to  the  entrance,  and  saw  that  the  Larrada  was 
dividing  the  cell  into  two  portions  by  erecting  a  wall  of  mud  ;  it 
then  became  e^ddent  to  me  that  this  hornet  was  playing 
the  part  of  the  Cuckoo,  by  depositing  its  own  egg  in  the  nest 
of  another  species,  so  that  its  young  might  be  developed  at  the 
expense  of  the  labours  of  another.  After  this  I  examined  all  the 
cells  which  had  been  taken  possession  of  by  this  hornet,  and  as  I 
anticipated,  I  found  in  every  case  the  ovum  of  Larrada  Australis  ? 


BY    H.    RAWES    WHITTELL,    ESQ.  33 

therein,  and  these  cells  were  sub-divided  as  I  had  witnessed  in  the 
first  instance. 

There  is  no  possibility  of  mistaking  the  ova,  that  of  Larrada 
Australis,  being  only  about  half  the  size  of  that  of  Pelopoeus 
Icetus.  The  Larrada  does  not  go  to  the  river  for  the  material 
used  in  subdividing  the  cell,  but  takes  it  from  any  convenient  part 
of  the  nest  it  has  attacked,  moistening  it  with  a  secretion  of  its 
own,  it  also,  when  at  work,  emits  the  same  sound  as  Pelopoeus 
Ictitus,  but  so  faintly  as  to  be  only  distinguished  at  very  close 
<3uauters. 

I  could  not  discover  what  was  done  with  the  ovum  of  Pelopoeus 
but  I  believe  it  is  devoured  by  the  Larrada  before  it  deposits 
its  own.  If  it  were  thrown  out  of  the  cell  I  should  have  seen 
it  done  I  think,  and  it  was  certainly  not  in  any  of  the  cells  I 
then  examined,  so  that  the  only  way  it  could  be  disposed  of  is  as 
I  have  suggested.  If  it  is  eaten  by  Larrada  Australis,  what  pur- 
pose does  this  serve,  it  is  surely  not  the  natural  food  of  this 
insect  1 

The  locality  from  which  these  specimens  came,  and  where  my 
observations  were  made,  is  situated  in  about  31*^  30 'south  latitude, 
and  longitude  about  143^  30'  east,  and  about  six  miles  from  the 
town  of  Wilcannia  on  the  Darling  River. 


On  the  Voracity  of  a  species  of  Heterostoma. 

By  H.  Rawes  Whittell,  Esq. 

On  the  18th  September,  1879,  while  insect  hunting,  1  turned 
over  a  dead  log,  and  beheld  to  my  surprise  a  lizard  (Biplodac 
tylus),  held  fast  by  a  centipede  of  the  genus  Heterostoma,  which 
was  eating  it  alive.  Neither  seemed  in  any  way  disturbed  by  my 
intrusion.  I  sat  down  to  watch  results,  and  occasionally  stirred 
up  the  Diplodactylus  with  a  stick,  which  caused  it  to  make  feeble 
and  futile  efforts  to  release  itself. 
c 


34  ON    THE    VORACITY    OF   A    SPECIES    OF    HETEROSTOMA, 

The  centipede  had  secure  hold  by  numbers  of  its  hinder  legs  to 
a  firm  twig ;  some  of  the  middle  ones  held  the  tail  of  the  Diplo- 
dactylus,  which  was  severed  from  the  body,  leaving  but  a  short 
stump,  and  the  remainder  held  its  victim  securely  by  the  right 
hind  leg  and  stump  of  the  tail.  I  next  got  on  all-fours  to  watch 
the  centipede  feeding ;  at  first  I  thought  it  was  but  sucking  the 
blood,  but  saw  shortly  that  it  was  eating  the  flesh  also,  and  by 
squeezing  the  wound  with  its  mandibles,  causing  a  copious  flow  of 
blood  at  moderate  intervals  ;  always  eating  the  flesh  between 
these  intervals.  After  watching  them  for  about  a  quarter  of  an 
hour,  I  killed  the  centipede  and  examined  the  Diplodactylus  ; 
I  found,  just  immediately  before  and  slightly  beneath  the  right 
hind  leg,  a  shallow  circular  space  a  little  more  than  the  eighth  of 
an  inch  in  diameter,  and  about  one-sixteenth  of  an  inch  in  depth, 
eaten  clean  away. 

The  DiiDlodactylus  when  in  the  grasp  of  the  centipede  seemed 
stupified,  but  soon  recovered  itself  after  I  had  liberated  it.  It 
was  fully  four  inches  in  length,  and  about  half  an  inch  in  breadth 
across  the  body.  The  Heterostoma  was  about  three  and  a  half 
inches  in  length,  and  in  breadth  of  a  proportion  common  to  its 
family. 

I  may  state  that  I  made  notes  of  all  my  observations  at  the 
times  they  were  made,  and  it  is  from  these  notes  that  my  remarks 
this  evening  are  compiled. 

The  locality  where  this  observation  was  made  is  the  same  as 
that  given  in  my  preceding  paper. 


Notes  and  Exhibits. 

Mr.  Macleay  exhibited  a  curious  horny  gi'owth  taken  from  the 
ear  of  a  sheep  at  Natal  Downs,  Queensland.  The  growth,  which 
seems  to  have  arisen  from  ear-marking  five  months  previously, 
was  of  a  long  conical  shape,  resembling  horn  both  in  form  and 
texture. 


BY    H.    RAWES    WHITTELL,    ESQ. 


35 


Mr.  Brazier  exhibited  two  specimens  of  a  new  genus  of  Shell 
from  New  Guinea,  fov  which  he  proposed  the  name  of  Braziera 
typica.     He  intimated  that  a  full  description  would  be  given  at 


Mr.  E.AMSAY  exhihited  two  masks,  a  dagger  formed  of  the 
spine  of  a  Sting  Ray,  a  knife  of  Obsidian,  and  a  variety  of 
ornaments,  &c.,  from  the  Admiralty  Islands. 


,;;;325?^^^^^^5:§P»= 


WEDNESDAY,  28th  FEBRUAKY,  1883. 


The  President,  C.  S.  Wilkinson,  F.G.S.,  <fec.,  in  the  Chair. 


MEMBERS    ELECTED. 

Edward  C.  Fa  Hick  Esq.,  Sydney. 
James  D.  Cox,  Esq.,  Mudgee. 
P.  N.  Trebeck,  Esq. 

Spencer  Clay  Burnell,  Esq.,  174  Forbes  Street,  Darlinghurst. 
Henry  Hamilton  Onslow,  Esq.,  Mines  Department. 
Frank  Meyrick  de  Meyrick,  Esq.,  Peates  Ferry,  Hawkesbury 
River. 

J.  MacDonald,  Esq.,  Mason  Brothers,  Sydney. 


DONATIONS. 

"  Transactions  and  proceedings  of  the  Royal  Society  of  South 
Australia,"  Volumes  II.,  Ill,  lY.,  and  Y.,  8vo.,  1877-82.  From 
the  Society. 

A  series  of  papers  "  On  Pre-historic  footprints  in  the  Sandstone 
Quarry  of  the  Nevada  State  Prison  "  ;  "  On  the  fossil  jaw  of  a 
Mammoth"  ;  and  ''On  the  history  &c.,  of  Fresh-water  Mussels," 
8vo.,  1882.     From  the  California  Academy  of  Sciences. 

"  Smithsonian  Contributions  to  Knowledge,"  9  volumes.  4to. 
3  4to.  pamphlets. 

"Smithsonian  Miscellaneous  Collections,"  17  octavo  volumes, 
and  4  pamphlets.     From  the  Smithsonian  Institution. 

"  Proceedings  of  the  Boston  Society  of  Natural  History," 
volume  XX.,  part  4,  Yol.  XXL,  parts  1,  2,  and  3,  8vo.,  1880-82. 
From  the  Society. 


DONATIONS.  37 

"  Bulletin  of  the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology  at  Harvard 
College,"  Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  Vol.  VI ,  No.  11,  8vo.,  1881. 
From  the  Museum. 

"  Proceedings  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences,  Philadelphia" 
Yearly  volumes  for  1876,  77,  78,  79,  — ,  81,  8vo.  From  the 
Society. 

"  Memoires  de  V  Academie  Imperiale  des  Sciences  de  St.  Peters- 
bourg,"   Tomes  xxiii.    to   xxix.   and   xxx.,   Nos.  1,  2,  and  5,  4to., 

1875-82. 

"  Bulletin  de  1'  Academie  Imperiale  des  Sciences  de  St.  Peters- 
bourg,"  Tomes  xxi.  to  xxvii.  and  xxviii.,  No.  1,  4to.,  1875-82. 
From  the  Academy. 

"  On  Chilostomatous  Bryozoa  from  Bairnsdale,"  (Gippsland) . 
By  Arthur  Wm.  Waters,  F.G.S.      From  the  author. 


papers  read. 
On  the  Fossil  Flora  of  the  Coal    Deposits  of  Australia. 
By  the  Rev.  J.  E.    Tenison-Woods,    F.G.S.,  F.L.S.,  Vice- 
President  Linnean  Society,  New  South  Wales. 

In  the  month  of  August  1880  a  paper  was  read  before  the 
Royal  Society  of  New  South  Wales  from  Dr.  O.  Feistmantel,  on 
the  fossil  flora  of  Eastern  Australia  and  Tasmania.  This  essay 
comprised  a  most  valuable  series  of  observations  on  all  that  was 
known  on  the  subject  of  our  Australian  coal  plants,  for  though  it 
only  professed  to  deal  with  those  of  eastern  colonies,  it  included  the 
paleontological  flora  of  Victoria  as  well.  It  was  a  brief  epitome 
of  all  that  was  then  known  of  our  fossil  flora.  Dr.  Feistmantel, 
however,  laboured  under  the  disadvantage  of  having  only  the 
specimens  collected  from  a  comparatively  restricted  area  and 
numerically  few.  Had  he  been  able  to  visit  the  fields  from  which 
the  specimens  were  taken  he  would  have  observed  that  the  flora  of 
each  particular  locality  included  a  much  larger  number  of  species 


38       ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

than  were  contained  in  liis  lists.  He  states  that  his  observations 
were  founded  on  a  collection  forwarded  to  him  in  1876  by  the  late 
Rev,  W.  B.  Clarke,  F.R.S.,  and  on  another  smaller  collection  sent 
in  1878  by  the  same  gentleman,  and  on  several  specimens  sent  to 
him  by  Mr.  C.  S.  Wilkinson,  F.G.S.,  government  geologist  of  New 
South  Wales.  These  picked  specimens  do  not  give  a  complete  idea 
of  the  flora,  and  it  may  be  safely  asserted  that  comparisons  instituted 
between  one  locality  and  another  on  small  collections  are  more  or 
less  fallacious.  Since  the  publication  of  the  papers  referred  to  I 
have  visited  a  great  many  of  the  coal  bearing  districts  in  Queens- 
land, and  have  made  extensive  collections.  I  have  found  that 
Dr.  Feistmantel's  lisb  can  now  be  largely  extended.  I  refer  to  this 
list  in  particular  because  it  is  the  only  one  of  the  kind  published 
in  English.  It  is  simply  a  brief  summary  of  a  larger  work  published 
in  German  entitled  "  Palaeozoische  und  mesozoische  Flora  des 
ostlichen  Australiens,"*  and  which  is  inaccessible  to  most  English 
readers.  It  is  rarely  met  in  the  colony  and  is  not  yet  in  any  of 
our  public  libraries.  In  the  course  of  this  essay  it  will  be  seen 
how  largely  I  have  availed  myself  of  this  most  valuable  work. 
I  propose  now  to  go  a  little  further  into  the  subject,  and  place 
within  reach  of  Australian  students,  not  only  what  relates  to 
Australian  coal  plants,  but  also  a  general  view  of  their  scientific 
classification.  At  present  there  is  no  English  modern  work 
which  will  take  the  place  of  Schimper's  expensive  volumes  and 
plates,  and  moreover  to  study  the  fossil  flora  of  Australia 
scientifically  would  require  a  large  and  costly  library.  It  is  to 
be  hoped  that  what  I  now  publish  will  supply  ihe  want,  while  it 
extends  the  knowledge  of  the  flora.  I  shall  commence  with  the 
History  or  Literature. 

*  Cassel  4to,  pubhshed  in  two  parts  as  portions  of  a  serial  work  entitled 
Paleontologische  Bertrage  of  which  Feistmantel's  work  forms  Part  III, 
1878,  with  18  plates,  and  Part  IV,  1879,  with  12  plates.  The  plates  are 
numbered  1  to  12  in  the  second  part,  with  a  second  enumeration  (connecting 
the  work  with  the  first  part)  from  19  to  30.  Reference  is  always  made  in 
the  essay  to  the  second  enumeration.  Readers  must  be  on  their  guard 
about  tiie  typographical  errors  which  are  very  numerous  and  not  half 
included  in  the  errata.  Dr.  Feistmantel  being  in  India  was  unable  to  correct 
the  press. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.    E.  TENISON- WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  39 

History. — The  first  notice  of  any  coal  plants  of  Australia 
would  appear  to  be  by  A.  Brongniart,  who,  in  his  History  and 
Table  of  Fossil  Plants,  notices  Phyllotheca  australis  and  some 
other  plants  as  coming  from  Australia,  but  without  any  further 
information.  *  He  also  gives  a  description  of  Glossoj^teris 
hroicniana  f  also  an  Australian  Fossil. 

In  the  Edinb.  New  Phil.  Journ.  for  September,  1832  and 
January,  1833,  p.  155,  we  find  a  notice  of  the  fossil  coniferous 
woods  of  Australia  by  Mr.  William  Nicholl.  The  specimens 
were  received  from  the  Rev.  C.  P.  N.  Wilton,  who  collected  them 
from  Newcastle,  Macquarie  Lake  and  other  places,  J 

In  1845  Prof.  Morris  gave  the  first  special  notice  of  Australian 
Fossil  Flora  in  Strzelecki's  Physical  Description  of  New  South 
Wales  and  Yan  Dieman's  Land.§  In  this  essay  he  described 
fossils  from  Newcastle,  New  South  Wales^  and  Jerusalem  in 
Tasmania.  In  summarizing  the  result  of  a  study  of  the  car- 
boniferous flora,  he  thought  that  at  the  carboniferous  period  the 
Australian  plants  were  perfectly  distinct  from  those  of  the 
northern  hemisphere.  He  was  the  first  paleontologist  who  called 
attention  to  the  resemblance  between  the  local  plants  of  Australia 
and  those  of  India.  He  pointed  out  that  there  was  not  only  a 
remarkable  analogy  of  form  in  some  species,  but  an  actual 
identity  in  others.  It  is  to  be  remarked  that  Professor  Morris's 
Pecopteris  australis  is  now  regarded  as  Alethojjteris  and  F. 
odontojiteroides  as  Thinnfeldia. 

In  1847  Prof.  M'Coy  gave  an  elaborate  report  on  the  Fossil 
Botany  and   Zoology   of  the  rocks   associated   with  the  coal  of 


*  Prodromus  d'une  Histoire  des  Vegetaux  Fossiles,  p.  152,  8vo.  Paris,  1828. 

t  Histoire  des  Vegetaux  Fossiles    2  vols.,  4to.  Paris,  1828.  Vol.  1,  p.  322. 

X  ^ee  also  The  London  and  Edinburgh  Philosophical  Magazine  for  1832 
(vol.  1),  p.  92,  where  there  is  a  paper  entitled  "Sketch  of  the  Geology  of 
six  miles  of  the  south-east  coast  line  of  the  coast  of  Newcastle  in  Australia, 
with  a  notice  of  three  burning  cliffs  on  that  coast.  By  the  Rev.  Charles 
Pleydell  Neall  Wilton.  M.A.,  of  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge.  Fellow  of 
the  Cambridge  Philosophical  Society  and  Chaplain  of  Newcastle, "  After 
this  long  title  it  would  seem  that  a  foot-note  by  the  Editor  saying  that  the 
paper  was  communicated  by  the  author  is  somewhat  unnecessary. 

§  London  :  Longman,  1845,  p.  245. 


40       ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

Australia.*  In  this  report  many  new  species  of  ferns,  &c., 
are  described  and  figured  and  their  relations  discussed  at 
length.  The  author's  descriptions  will  be  considered  here- 
after ,  he  regarded  the  plants  as  of  Oolitic  age.  He  sum- 
marizes his  conclusions  thus  :  "  With  such  evidence  as  I  have 
mentioned,  I  do  not  think  it  improbable  that  a  wide  geological 
interval  occurred  between  the  consolidation  of  the  fossiliferous 
beds  which  underlie  the  coal  and  the  deposition  of  the  coal 
measures  themselves  ;  that  there  is  no  real  connection  between 
them,  but  that  they  belong  to  widely  different  geological  systems, 
the  former  referable  to  the  base  of  the  Carboniferous  system,  the 
latter  to  the  Oolite,  and  neither  showing  the  slightest  tendency  to 
a  confusion  of  type."  f 

From  these  conclusions,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Clarke  dissented,  and 
maintained  that  there  is  no  break  whatever  between  the  various 
beds,  but  that  the  fossiliferous  rocks  are  interpolated  by  the  coal 
beds  containing  the  peculiar  plants  described.  In  a  paper  contri- 
buted to  the  Annals  and  Mag.  of  Nat.  Hist,  for  Sept.  1848, J  he 
enters  into  proofs  of  the  correctness  of  his  opinion.  These  are — - 
1.  That  Mr.  Jukes,  after  an  examination  of  the  Illawarra  coast 
in  1845,  then  agreed  with  him  that  there  was  no  break  in  the 
series.  2.  That  Professor  Dana,  though  differing  from  Mr.  Jukes, 
saw  in  the  low  cliff  at  Black  Head  in  the  midst  of  the  organic 
remains  as  described  by  M'Coy  from  that  locality,  the  identical 
fossilized  wood  described  by  Mr.  Jukes.  It  was  in  and  above  the 
coal.  3.  At  Moree  (not  far  from  Raymond  Terrace),  Mr.  Clarke 
found  paleozoic  fossils  associated  with  impressions  of  Glossopteris 
lineata.  4.  At  Anvil  Creek  good  coal  is  overlaid  by  a  sandstone 
containing  Spirifers  and  other  fossils  described  by  M'Coy ;  also  at 
Page  River,  Mount  Wingen.  5.  Stems  and  leaves  of  ferns  occur 
also  in  fosiliferous  beds  on  the  Allyn  and  various  parts  of  the 
Hunter  River  district.      6.  At   Parramatta   casts   of  shells  have 


*  Annals  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.     Vol.  xx,  p.  145,  &c. 
t  Annals  and  Mag,  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  20,  p.  311. 

X  Remarks  on  the  identity  of  the  epoch  of  the  coal  beds  and  paleozoic 
rocks  of  New  South  Wales,  p.  209  of  2ncl  vol.  for  1848. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.   E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  41 

been  found  in  quarries  at  the  very  top  of  the  great  sandstone,  and 
between  it  and  the  Wianamatta  beds,  which  are  in  the  IHawarra 
escarpment,  full  800  feet  above  the  level.  And  these  Wianamatta 
beds,  at  Clarke's  Hill  and  elsewhere  in  the  Cowpasture  country- 
abound  with  ferns.  The  author  concludes  by  saying,  "  So  long  as 
the  fossil  wood  of  the  coal  measures  and  leaves  and  stems  of 
Glossopteris  occur  in  the  same  rock,  specimens  with  the  Spirifers, 
Productae,  Cornularia,  &c.,  which  I  maintain  they  do.  ...  I 
must  take  the  liberty  of  expressing  my  belief  from  what  I  have 
seen  and  know  from  actual  and  careful  and  repeated  examinatioQ 
of  a  very  extensive  region  during  several  years,  that  there  is  no 
break  in  our  Australian  series  of  deposits,  and  that  if  the  paleo- 
zoic fossils  are  of  the  lowest  Carboniferous  age,  so  the  age  of  the 
coal  plants  is  nearly  identical  with  it." 

In  this  summary  three  things  will  surprise  geologists  of  the 
present  day,  namely  : — Mr.  Clarke  states  that  he  has  found  rock 
impressions  of  ferns  [Glossopteris)  and  Sjnrifer,  Productus  and 
Cornularia  on  the  same  rock  specimens.  2.  All  the  formations 
from  the  coal  to  the  Wianamatta  are  included  as  one.  3.  The 
age  assigned  is  the  lowest  Carboniferous. 

The  views  of  Mr.  Jukes  here  referred  to  were  published  in  the 
3rd  vol.  of  the  "  Quart.  Journ.  Geo!.  Soc.  Lond.  p.  224.  ^ 

He  described  a  series  of  deposits  near  Sydney  about  2000  feet 
thick  which  he  termed  paleozoic.  The  lowest  of  the  series  was 
called  Wollongong  sandstone,  thick  bedded,  fine  grained  often 
calcareous,  containing  many  concretionary  nodules  from  one  inch  to 
two  feet  in  diameter.  This  was  300  to  400  feet  thick  with 
Stenopora,  Spirifer,  Productus,  &c.  Above  these  are  200  feet  of 
strata  with  coal  represented  as  not  likely  to  he  important.  Then 
shales  and  sandstone  400  feet.  Then  700  to  800  feet  of  white  or 
light  yellow  sandstones,  varying  from  fine  grained  to  coarse, 
containing  quartz  pebbles,  resembling,  as  Mr.  Jukes  thought,  the 
millstone  grit  and  lower  coal  measures  of  Ens^land.     On  the  whole 


*  Notes   on   the    Paleozoic   formations   of   New    South  Wales  and    Va  n 
Diemen's  Land  by  Professor  J.  B.  Jukes. 


42       ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA 


are  shales  300  feet  thick,  with  a  few  small  fragmentary  impressions 
and  pieces  of  leaves,  and  occasional  fish  remains.  Mr.  Jukes 
believed  that  there  was  a  perfect  conformability  in  the  whole  series, 
and  a  gradual  transition  of  their  divisions  into  each  other. 

About  the  date  of  the  letter  of  Mr.  Clarke  to  the  Annals  of 
Natural  History  he  sent  a  paper  to  the  Geological  Society  of 
London  * 

In  this  he  took  exception  to  the  statement  of  Count  Strzelecki 
in  his  work  that  there  was  an  entire  absence  of  such  plants  as 
Siyillaria,  Gala^mites,  Lepidodendron  and  Conifers  in  the  Aus- 
tralian coal  beds.  After  some  remarks  on  the  similarity  of  our 
coal  beds  to  those  of  India  he  gives  the  following  list  of  coal  plants 
stated  to  be  found  in  the  carboniferous  deposits  of  New  South 
Wales  :  Pecopteris^  Neuropteris,  Odontopteris,  Cyclopteris,  Sphenop- 
teris,  Glossopteris.  Genus,  intermediate  between  Tceniopteris 
and  Glossopteris,  Halonia.  Cannseform  plants  :  Galamites, 
Phyllotheca,  Zeugophyllites,  Equisetum,  Lycopodites.  New  genus 
of  plants  with  wedge  formed  stems  :  Lepidodendron,  sometimes 
Lepidostrohi,  Ulodendron,  SigiUaria,  and  Stigmaria,  Goniferce.  He 
then  gives  the  localities  where  they  are  found,  stating  that 
Lepidodendron  occurred  on  the  Paterson  and  that  Galamites 
abound  not  only  at  Newcastle  but  over  the  Hunter  and  Illawarra 
coal  regions.  He  concludes  thus  "  We  find  also  that  there  is  a 
gradual  passage  from  a  fauna  usually  supposed  to  belong  to  the 
lowest  Carboniferous  beds  of  Europe  to  one  still  lower  in  the 
geological  scale  in  which  in  Europe  no  true  coal  beds  have  been 
discovered.  And  if  we  adopt  the  view  long  ago  presented  to  my 
mind  that  the  Australian  system  is  the  equivalent  of  the  Devonian 
or  embraces  that  and  the  Carboniferous  formation  together,  we 
shall  still  be  met  with  the  fact  that  Silurian  forms  are  mingled  in 
abundance  with  a  flora  supposed  to  be  younger."  From  this  Mr. 
Clarke  suggests  that  we  cannot  place  our  formations  on  a  parallel 
with    any    European    epoch,    but  that    what    was    the    Silurian 


*  On  the  Genera  and  Distribution  of  Plants  in  the  Carboniferous  system 
of  New  South  Wales.     Proceedings  June  16,  1848,  vol.  4,  p.  60. 


BY    THE    REV.   J.   E.   TENISON- WOODS,   F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  43 

Devonian,  Carboniferous  in  Europe,  formed  one  uninterrupted  and 
conformable  series  of  deposits  in  Australia. 

We  suppose  that  some  of  the  fossil  plants  indicated  in  Mr. 
Clarke's  list  are  instances  of  mistaken  identification,  because 
subsequent  investigation  has  not  confirmed  their  existence.  Mis- 
takes as  to  locality,  &c.,  from  which  specimens  were  obtained  must 
explain  the  assertion  that  Lepidodendon,  Ulodendron,  Lycopodites, 
and  Neuropteris  occur  in  connection  with  our  coal  deposits. 

In  1849  Professor  Dana  published*  a  description  of  some 
Australian  coal  plants.  It  is  remarkable  that  he  regards  Morris's 
Zeugophyllites  elongatus  as  Noeggerathia,  a  conifer.  The  descrip- 
tions given  by  Dana  are  very  elaborate,  and  the  discussions  equally 
so,  but  he  does  not  believe  that  there  is  no  break  between  the 
paleozoic  marine  fossils  and  the  plant  remains.  In  1850  Mr. 
Jukes  published  his  sketch  of  the  physical  structure  of  Australia,  in 
which  he  repeated  the  opinions  previously  put  forth  as  to  the  general 
conformability  of  the  coal  and  other  deposits,  and  that  they  all 
formed  one  great  paleozoic  formation  without  any  break.  Mr. 
Jukes  believed  that  we  had  not  any  mesozoic  formations  in 
Australia,  either  terrestrial  or  marine.  The  work  did  not  throw 
any  light  on  the  paleontology  of  our  coal  plants,  though  many  are 
mentioned  by  name. 

Previous  to  the  year  1851  the  Rev.  W.  B.  Clarke  sent  a 
Lepidodendron  to  Prof.  Sedgwick,  and  in  June  of  that  year  Prof. 
M'Coy  wrote  from  Cambridge  to  Mr.  Clarke  stating  that  the 
specimen  was  L.  tetragonum  of  the  English  coal  fields,  and  adding 
that  it  was  the  first  Lepidodendron  seen  from  Australia.! 

With  the  exception  of  the  Lepidodendron  all  the  species 
described  and  published  by  the  above  authors  were  included  in 
the  second  edition  of  Dr.  F.  Unger's  Genera  et  Species  Plantarum 
Fossilium.  Leipsic,  1850.  Many  of  them  in  Baron  A.  de 
Zigno's  Flora  Fossilis  Formationis  Oolithicse.  Padua,  1856 
to  1860. 

*  United  States  Exploring  Expedition,  Vol.  X.,  Geology  Appendix, 
p.  714.     Philadelphia,  1849. 

t  Clarke,  Sedimentary  Formations.     4th  edition,  1878,  p.  21. 


44       ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1857  a  select  commission  was 
appointed  by  the  Parliament  of  Victoria  to  examine  into  the  coal 
fields  of  that  colony.  In  the  evidence  published  with  the  report 
there  is  much  information  about  coal  and  the  coal  plants  of  Aus- 
tralia, but  the  opinions  given  as  to  the  age  of  both  are  conflicting. 
A  short  time  subsequently  searches  for  coal  were  instituted  near 
Greelong  in  Victoria,  and  on  the  Wannon  River  in  the  western 
part  of  that  colony.  The  origin  of  that  search  was  the  occurrence 
of  shales  with  imperfect  plant  remains  in  a  rock  which  bore  much 
resemblance  to  Jurassic  strata  in  Europe.  The  result  of  borings 
was  the  discovery  of  fragments  of  Cycadaceous  plants  (Pcdo- 
zamites),  ferns  (Tceniopteris,  Alethopteris)  and  at  the  Wannon  a 
XJnio  {Unio  daco77ibi,  M'Coy).  All  these  discoveries  were  re- 
corded in  the  local  papers,  the  Geelong  Advertiser  and  the 
Portland  Guardian  of  various  dates  in  1859. 

In  1860  a  long  discussion  took  place  between  the  Rev.  W.  B. 
Clarke  and  Prof.  M'Coy  as  to  the  age  of  the  beds  to  which  these 
fossils  should  be  referred.  The  papers  containing  this  are 
published  in  the  Transactions  of  the  Royal  Society  of  Victoria 
for  1860.  Prof.  M'Coy  maintained  that  the  fossils  were  of  Oolitic 
age,  and  that  as  so  many  were  identical  with  fossils  found  in  the 
Newcastle  seams  of  New  South  Wales,  the  whole  should  be 
referred  to  the  same  geological  horizon.  Mr.  Clarke  combated 
both  conclusions,  but  the  controversy  turned  more  particularly  on 
the  significance  of   Tceniopteris. 

In  the   following  year    Mr.   Clarke  published  a   paper  on  the 

relative  position  of    certain  plants    in  the    coal  bearing  seams  of 

Australia.*     The  occasion  of  the  paper  was  statements  by  Count 

de    Zigno    that — 1.   Mr.    Clarke    had    reported    the    discovery  of 

Sigillaria,  Lejndodendron  and   Stigmaria  in  the  coal  beds  of  New 

South    Wales.       2.     That    these    determinations    had     not    been 

verified.      3.   That  instead,  a  series  of  ferns  had  been  found,  which 

with  types  analogous  to  those  of  India,  recalled  the  J  urassic  flora 

of  Scarborough!. 

*  Quart  Jour.  Geol.  Soc,  London.     Vol.  17,  p.  354. 

t  Some  Obs.  on  the  Flora  of  the  Oolite,  Quart.  Journ.Geol.  Soc,  London. 
Vol.  16  (1860),  p.  111. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.   E,   TENISON-WOODS,   F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  45 

In  reply  Mr.  Clarke  refers  to  Mr.  Selwyn's  opinion,  that  true 
Carboniferous  or  Devonian  plants  occurred  in  Eastern  Victoria 
and  Tasmania  immediately  underlying  the  coal-bearing  beds  and 
conformable  to  them.  He  reiterates  that  such  fossils  as  he 
specified  had  been  found  in  New  South  Wales,  Queensland  and 
Victoria,  and  gives  the  localities.  He  repeats  that  they  are  in 
beds  which  are  conformable  to  the  coal  measures — an  error  which 
will  be  subsequently  referred  to.  He  also  states  that  the 
Carboniferous  marine  fauna  of  New  South  Wales  including  such 
forms  as  Pachydomus,  Spirifer^  Ortlioceratite,  is  intercalated  with 
l)eds  containing  Glossopteris,  Vertebraria  and  Phyllotheca — a  state- 
ment which  all  subsequent  observation  has  confirmed  in  New 
South  Wales,  Queensland  and  Tasmania.  Tceniopteris  daintreei 
of  M'Coy,  was  not  described  until  many  years  after,  but 
references  are  made  to  it  and  the  associated  plant  remains  in  the 
Inter-Colonial  Exhibition  Essays  of  Prof.  M'Coy*  and  in  a  note  on 
the  same  subject  in  the  Annals  Mag.  of  Nat.  Hist,  for  1862.  In 
1865  some  mention  is  made  of  plant  remains  by  Mr,  C.  S.  Wilkin- 
son, in  his  Geological  Report  of  the  Cape  Otway  district.! 

A  further  contribution  to  the  knowledge  of  the  subject  was 
made  by  Mr.  W.  Keene.  Inspector  of  Coal  Mines  for  New  South 
Wales,  in  a  paper  on  the  Coal  Measures  of  that  colony,  read 
before  the  Geological  Society  of  Loudon.  J  In  the  following 
year  Mr  Selwyn,  the  Government  Geologist  of  Victoria,  pub- 
lished an  Essay  on  the  Geology  and  Physical  Geography  of  the 
Colony  of  Victoria,  in  which  there  were  also  references  to  the 
plant  remains.  §  At  page  20  he  says,  "I  am  inclined  to  believe 
that  the  Victorian  '  carbonaceous'  series  is  newer  than  and  above 
the  Sydney  sandstone."l|  It  may,  perhaps,  represent  what  Mr. 
Keene,  in  his  paper  on  the  Coal  Measures  of  New  South  Wales 

*  On  the  Ancient  and  Recent  Nat.  Hist  of  Victoria,  by  Prof.  M  Coy. 
Melbourne,  1861. 

t  Geological  Survey  of  Victoria.     Melbourne,  1865. 
•  +  Quart  Journ.     Vol.  xxi.     May,  1865. 

§  Melbourne  :  Inter- Colonial  Exhibition  Essays,  1866.     Small  8vo. 

II  By  this  term  Mr,  Selwyn  probably  indicated  the  Hawkesbury  sand- 
stone, which  he  supposed  to  be  the  same  as  the  coal-bearing  strata.  It  is, 
however,  distinct,  often  unconformable  and,  as  I  believe,  an  eolian  deposit. 


46       ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

(in  the  Quarterly  Journal  of  the  London  Geological  Society,  May, 
1865)  designates  "False  Coal  Measures"  (Wianamatta  strata  of 
Clarke).  In  any  case  all  the  evidence  hitherto  obtained,  both 
paleontological  and  geological,  tends  clearly  to  show  that  the 
"carbonaceous."  or  coal-bearing  rocks  of  Victoria,  are  newer  than 
paleozoic,  and  that  a  great  break  or  unconformity  exists  between 
them  and  the  beds  that  contain  Lepidodendron  and  other  paleozoic 
j)lants  in  eastern  Gippsland." 

I  need  not  follow  the  coal  controversy  through  all  the 
different  publications  in  which  it  appeared,  nor  need  I  give  here 
more  than  a  very  brief  summary  of  its  stages.  The  position  of 
Professor  M'Coy  was,  that  he  did  not  believe  that  the  beds  which 
furnished  the  paleozoic  marine  shells,  and  those  in  which  Glossop- 
teris,  Vertehraria  and  Phyllotheca  occurred,  were  one  geologically. 
He  thought  that  there  must  be  break  between  them  which  would 
give  a  paleozoic  age  to  the  shells  and  an  Oolitic  age  to  the  coal 
plants.  Mr.  Selwyn's  investigations  in  Tasmania,  gave  support  to 
this  theory.  That  gentleman  in  his  report,  stated  he  thought  that 
the  Jerusalem  beds  with  Thinnfeldia^Zeugojohyllites  and  Alethopteris 
were  conformable  to  the  beds  containing  true  carboniferous  marine 
fossils.  He  subsequently  found  that  they  were  unconformable. 
Mr.  Clarke  maintained  that  there  was  no  unconformability  in 
New  South  Wales.  This  appears  in  various  papers  and  letters, 
noteably  one  on  the  coal  seams  of  Stony  Creek,  West  Maitland 
district  New  South  Wales.*  As  early  as  1863  Mr.  Daintree  had 
(August  29),  written  to  the  Editor  of  the  "  Yeoman  and  Advertiser '' 
in  Melbourne,  stating  that  having  examined  the  beds  at  Russell's 
shaft.  Stony  Creek,  he  was  convinced  that  Glossoi^teris,  dc,  were 
really  intercalated  with  marine  strata  containing  paleozoic  fossils, 
about  whose  Carboniferous  character  there  would  be  no  possible 
doubt.  This  fact  was  confirmed  in  the  many  subsequent  publi- 
cations of  Mr.  Clarke,  principally  letters  to  the  local  journals,  and 
his  little  work  on  the  Sedimentary  formations  of  New  South 
Wales.      I  must  refer  my  readers  to  the  work  itself  for  details  of 

*  Trans,  Eoy.  Soc,  Victoria,  1864,  Art  6. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.  E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  47 

the  various  arguments.  The  first  edition  was  published  in  1867, 
as  an  essay  in  the  Catalogue  of  the  Natural  and  Industrial 
Products  of  New  South  Wales,  forwarded  to  the  Paris  Exhibition 
of  1867.* 

But  probably  the  most  important  advance  in  the  knowledge 
of  Australian  Coal  Plants  was  that  made  by  the  publication  of 
Daintree's  Essay  on  the  Geology  of  Queensland.!  In  this  Mr. 
Daintree  points  out  the  distinction  which  must  be  made  between 
coal  plant  beds  containing  Glossojjteris  and  others  with  Tceniopteris, 
The  former  he  stated  is  in  Australia,  paleozoic  and  the  latter 
mesozoic,  and  that  the  two  kinds  of  fossils  are  never  mingled  in  the 
same  beds.  The  selection  of  Tcenmpteris  is  unfortunate  because  it 
is  not  common  and  probably  included  distinct  genera  according  to 
the  classification  then  adopted.  Thinnfeldia  is  a  much  better 
typical  fossil  of  the  mesozic  beds,  and  it  is  never  found  associated 
with  Glossojoteris.  It  is  very  common  and  prevails  everywhere  in 
Oolitic  plant  beds.  In  an  appendix  to  the  paper  Mr.  Carruthers 
figured  and  described  some  Devonian,  Carboniferous  and  Oolitic 
plants.  He  did  not  however,  agree  with  Mr.  Daintree  in 
separating  the  coal  formations  of  Australia  into  epochs  represented 
by  Glossopteris  and  Tceniopteris,  but  thought  they  might  belong  to 
one  great  period  not  earlier  than  the  Permian.  But  Mr.  Daintree 
pointed  out  that  in  West  Maitland,  New  South  Wales,  Glossopteris 
was  found  in  beds  distinctly  underlying  some  containing  Spirifer 
and  other  forms  which  were  certainly  Carboniferous.  This 
observation  has  since  as  already  stated  been  abundantly  confirmed, 
but  it  was  lost  sight  of  at  the  time.  To  Mr.  Daintree's 
investigations  must  be  assigned  the  credit  of  co-relating  the 
Jerusalem  (Tasmania)  beds,  with  those  of  Ipswich  in  Queensland, 
in  which  no  Glossop)teris  is  found  or  the  associated  marine  Car- 
boniferous fauna. 


*  A  second  edition  was  prepared  for  the  Report  of  the  International 
Exhibition  at  Sydney  in  1870,  and  on  the  Industrial  Progress  of  New  South 
Wales  for  the  same  year.  A  third  edition  was  printed  for  the  Philadelphia 
Exhibition  in  1875,  and  a  fourth  and  last  edition  for  the  year  1878,  when 
the  veteran  geologist  was  in  his  80th  year. 

+  Quart.  Jour.  Geol.  Soc,  Lond.  vol.  28,  1872,  pp.  271,  356. 


48       ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

In  the  Progress  Keport  of  the  Geological  Survey  of  Victoria  for 
1874,  Mr.  Broiigh  Smyth,  at  p.  24,  states  that  he  found  associated 
together  Pecopteris  (^Alethopteris)  australis,  one  of  tlie  characteristic 
forms  of  the  Jurassic  coal  beds  of  Australia,  with  Glossopteris 
h7'oionlana.  This  identification  was  confirmed  by  Professor  M'Coy. 
On  the  strength  of  this,  Mr.  Smyth  considered  that  the  whole  of 
the  coal  of  New  South  Wales  and  Tasmania  is  mesozoic,  adding, 
"In  New  South  Wales  and  Tasmania  the  coal-bearing  rocks  lie  on 
limestones,  and  the  fossil  fauna  contained  in  these  limestones  may 
without  doubt  be  regarded  as  belonging  to  the  marine  paleozoic 
Carboniferous  period,"  p.  26.  In  making  this  statement,  Mr. 
Brough  Smyth  contradicted  all  the  observations  of  those  who 
stated  that  the  coal  not  only  lay  upon  the  marine  Carboniferous 
fauna,  but  was  intercalated  between.  In  a  geological  map 
published  subsequently,  he  reiterates  the  above  opinion  by  coloring 
all  the  Newcastle  coal  deposits  as  carbonaceous,  and  not  carbon- 
iferous. No  facts  were  given  to  confirm  these  opinions  except  the 
discovery  of  Glossopteris  as  above  stated. 

In  1876,  there  appeared  in  the  Geological  Magazine*  an  article 
from  the  pen  of  Dr.  Feistmantel  on  the  Gondwana  series  of  India. 
Speaking  of  the  fossils  of  the  Damuda  group,  he  says — "  From 
the  occurrence  of  the  genus  Glossopteris  in  these  beds  they  were 
for  a  time  brought  into  connection  with  Australian  coal  measures, 
and  declared  paleozoic."  He  points  out  the  error  of  this  because, 
1,  in  the  Damuda  group  Glossopteris  is  associated  with  Triassic 
plants  which  do  not  occur  in  Australia  at  all.  2.  Because  in  India 
Glossopteris  is  never  associated  with  marine  paleozoic  fossils  which 
do  occur  in  Australia.  He  adds  that  '^Glossopteris  grew  first  in 
Australia "  during  the  Carboniferous  epoch,  survived  in  India, 
passing  perhaps  through  China  when  India  was  in  connexion  with 
the  European  Triassic  Continent.     (Note  at  p.  490.) 

With  reference  to  Phyllotheca,  he  says — it  is  known  in  Australia 
mostly  only  from  the  Newcastle  coal-field  above  the  marine  fauna 
and  from  mesozoic  rocks  in  Victoria  together  with  Tceniopteris,  &c. 


First  article  in  the  November  number,  p.  481, 


BY    THE    REV.  J.   E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  49 

PhyllotJieca  (Brongniart)  however,  is  best  developed  in  Euroj^e  in  the 
Italian  Oolite,  in  which  one  form  has  all  the  genuine  characters ; 
and  nothing  of  this  kind  is  known  anywhere  in  Carboniferous 
strata.  I  may  add  that  the  difference  in  form  between  Phyllotfieca 
australis  and  some  Calamites,  is  trifling,  and  it  would  not  be  any 
great  violation  of  the  generic  characters  of  either,  to  call  the 
Phyllotheca  referred  to,  an  Australian  Calamites.  I  do  not  think 
that  the  Newcastle  species  is  the  same  as  the  one  found  in  the 
shale  of  the  Hawkesbury  sandstone.  This  will  be  explained 
further  on. 

In  1876  Dr.  Feistmantel  published  some  notes  on  the  age  of 
some  of  the  Fossil  Floras  in  India  *  In  this  and  subsequent 
publications  of  the  Indian  Geological  survey  he  reviewed  the 
question  of  the  age  of  our  coal  plants,  some  more  of  which  had 
been  found  unrepresented  in  the  Indian  beds.  His  observations 
on  this  subject  were  continued  to  the  present  year,  and  were 
scattered  through  numerous  publications,  notably  the  Kecords  of 
the  Geological  Survey  (Paleontologia  Indica,  three  volumes  of 
which  refer  to  the  fossil  flora),  and  the  journal  of  the  Asiatic 
Society.  More  complete  references  will  be  found  in  the  course  of 
this  monograph  in  connection  with  the  plants  he  dealt  with. 

From  the  year  1874  until  the  present  day  Professor  M'Coy  of 
the  Melbourne  University,  has  published  various  parts  of  a 
Prodromus  of  the  Paleontology  of  Victoria.  In  these  he  has 
figured  and  described  many  of  the  coal  plants  of  Victoria,  though 
payable  seams  of  coal  have  never  been  found  in  that  colony.  The 
fossils  there  published  are  species  of  Cycads,  Ferns,  and  Lycopods, 
The  figures  and  descriptions  leave  nothing  to  be  desired,  and  the 
subject  has  been  treated  in  an  excellent  manner.  In  dealing  with 
such  forms  as  Pecopteris  (Alethopteris)  australis,  Tceniopteris 
daintreei,  and  Podozamites,  the  author  justly  refers  the  beds  in 
which  they  occur  to  the  Oolitic  period.  He  considers  them  of  the 
same  age  as  those  of   Newcastle,  New  South  Wales,   even  though 


^Records  Geol.  Survey  India,  IX,  Parts  3  &  4,  also  Jour.  Asiatic  Soc. ,  vol.  45. 


50       ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

these  fossils  have  never  been  found  in  the  Newcastle  beds.  But 
one  Glosso2)teris  had  been  found  associated  with  the  same  fossils  in 
Tasmania,  and  as  Glossojyteris  is  the  common  form  in  Newcastle  he 
thus  correlates  the  whole. 

In  1878  the  Rev.  W.  B.  Clarke  published  the  4th  edition  of  his 
Sedimentary  Formations  of  New  South  Wales.  This  was  decidedly 
the  most  valuable  of  all  this  geologist's  writings  because  of  the 
appendices  with  which  it  was  illustrated.  In  Appendix  XIII,  a 
list  is  given  of  all  Australian  fossil  coal  plants  known  to  the  author. 
In  Appendix  XYIII,  there  is  a  tabular  view  of  the  schemes  of 
arrangement  by  different  authors  of  the  paleozoic  fossils  of  the 
New  South  Wales  sedimentary  rocks.  Mr.  Clarke's  final  view  was 
confined  to  regarding  all  above  the  Newcastle  series  as  "  supra- 
carboniferous."  There  is  in  Appendix  XX,  a  correlation  of  Aus- 
tralian fossils,  exclusive  of  marine,  by  Dr.  0.  Feistmantel,  from  a 
MS.  letter  of  Fel^raary  1878.  There  are  also  extracts  from  letters 
of  the  same  paleontologist  pointing  out  the  resemblances  and 
difterences  between  the  Australian  and  Indian  coal  beds,  the  latter 
being  regarded  by  him  as  probably  of  Triassic  age. 

In  the  same  year,  1878,  Mr.  W.  T.  Blandford,  F.R.S.,  deputy 
superintendent  of  the  Geological  Survey  of  India,  published  a 
paper  entitled  "  The  paleontological  relations  of  the  Gondwana 
System,"  a  reply  to  Dr.  Feistmantel.*  In  this  paper  Mr.  Bland- 
ford  controverts  the  age  assigned  by  Dr.  Feistmantel  to  some 
subordinate  members  of  the  Gondwanas,  and  lays  much  stress  on 
the  paleozoic  age  of  the  Australian  coal,  which  has  fossils  in 
common  with  the  Indian  beds,  and  which  consequently  should  be 
considered  paleozoic  also. 

In  this  year  also  appeared  at  Cassel,  the  first  part  of  the  work  of 
Dr.  Feistmantel  on  the  Australian  Paleozoic  and  Mesozoic  Floras. 
This  has  been  already  referred  to.  The  second  part  appeared  in 
the  end  of  1879,  and  in  1880  the  same  author  gave  an  abstract  of 
his  views  to  the  Royal  Society  of  N.S.W.,  in  a  paper  mentioned 
previously. 

*  Records  of  the  Geol.  Survey  of  India.  No.  1,  1878,  Vol.  XI.,  p.  145,  «S:c. 


BV    THE    REV.  J.   E.   TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  51 

In  1879  there  appeared  in  Brisbane,  Queensland,  published  by 
the  Government  printer,  a  report  of  Mr.  R.  L.  Jack,  Government 
Geologist,  on  the  Bo  wen  River  Coal  Fields.  In  this  the  author 
enumerates  Glossopteris  hrowniana,  Phyllotheca  hooheri,  and  other 
plants  intercalated  with  beds  containing  Spirifer,  Productus,  and 
other  Brachiopoda,  besides  corals,  and  encrinites  of  recognized 
Carboniferous  age. 

The  report  of  Mr.  C.  S.  Wilkinson,  the  Government  Geologist, 
for  1880,  contains  references  to  fossils  from  coal  formations  in  the 
northern  portions  of  the  colony  of  New  South  Wales. 

I  have  not  included  in  this  list  the  catalogue  of  Australian 
fossils  by  R.  Etheridge,  jun.,  and  of  the  works  in  which  they  are 
mentioned,  but  it  will  be  useful  to  consult  it  where  a  good  know- 
ledge of  the  synonomy  can  serve  as  a  guide. 

In  1881,  the  third  volume  of  the  Fossil  Flora  of  the  Gondwana 
system  appeared.  In  this,  Dr.  Feistmantel  gives  his  final  views 
of  the  relations  of  the  tipper  Newcastle  seams.  He  regards  them 
as  mesozoic  (lower  Trias),  and  very  nearly  on  the  same  horizon  with 
tlie  Bacchus  Marsh  sandstone,  and  the  Indian  Kaharbari  coal  beds. 

This  includes  nearly  all  the  literature  of  the  subject  of  any 
importance.  There  have  been  a  few  more  recent  discoveries  of 
additional  species  of  coal  plants  made  by  myself,  which  have  been 
recorded  in  the  Transactions  of  the  Royal  Society  and  Linnean 
Society  of  New  South  Wales  for  last  year. 

Australian  Coal  Formations. 
Upper  Devonian. — Iguana  Creek,  North  Gippsland,  Victoria. 
Red  rubbly  rock  with  slate-colored  calcareous  veins  and  patches, 
overlaid  by  claret-colored  micaceous  grits,  and  hard  olive  flags 
with  plant  impressions  of  Archceopteris  howitti,  Sphenopteris 
igitanensis  and  Goi^daites  australis.  The  whole  group  is  composed 
of — 1,  coarse  conglomerates;  2,  sandstones  ;  3,  shales.  They  lie 
luicomformably  on  the  middle  Devonian,  and  pass  quite  conform- 
ably into  the  lower  Carboniferous.* 

*  See  Reijort  of  Progress  Geological  Survey  of  Victoria,  No.  Ill,  1876, 
p.  237.  In  this  report  there  is  a  most  elaborate  description  of  the  Devonian 
rocks  of  North  Gippsland  by  Mr.  Alfred  Howitt. 


52     on  the  fossil  flora  of  the  coal  deposits  of  australia, 
Lower  Carboniferous. 

Queensland. — Slates  and  breccias,  with  yellow,  pink,  and  brown 
sandstones  and  quartzites,  containing  plant  impressions  and  casts 
of  Leindodendron  nothum,  L.  veltheimiamtm,  Calamites  radiatus, 
C.  varians,  Cyclostigma  australe.  Conoona  River,  Broken  River, 
Mt.  Wyatt,  Medway  River,  Bobuntangen. 

Neio  South  Wales. — Back  Creek  (Barrington  Diggings),  Manning 
River ;  Goonoo  Goonoo  Creek  ;  Smith's  Creek,  near  Stroud, 
Rouchel  River,  Canowindra,  Cowra. 

Victoria.— 'R^di  and  yellow  micaceous  carboniferous  sandstones, 
lying  unconformably  on  the  upturned  edges  of  true  Devonian 
rocks,  with  Leindodendron  australe,  Avon  River,  Gippsland,  five 
miles  above  Bushy  Park. 

Permian  ? 

Queensland. — Bowen  River,  a  tributary  of  the  Burdekin,  ferru- 
ginous sandstones  with  coal  seams,  Glossopteris  hrowaiana  ;  blue 
shale  with  Glossojyteris,  Phyllotheca,  and  other  plant  remains, 
intercalated  with  marine  beds  containing  Productus  clarkei,  Strej)- 
torhynchus  crenistria,  Fenestella,  &c.,  and  dioritic  laccolites, 
which  have  destroyed  the  coal. 

JVew  South  Wales. — Arowa,  with  Rhaco]oteris  inequilatera,  Glossop- 
teris lineata  ;  Greta  Creek  and  Anvil  Creek,  (both  close  to  each 
other)  with.  Annularia  australis,  Glossopteris j)rim<x,va,  G.  broionia.na, 
G.  elegans,  Noggerathiopsis  p)risca  ]  all  underlying  marine  beds, 
with  Spirifer  glabra,  Aphanaia  mitchelli,  Froductus,  Conularia,  &c. 
Sandstones,  conglomerates,  sometimes  of  large  size  and  rounded 
pieces  of  shale,  blue  and  black  ironstone  bands  and  coal  seams  ; 
Stoney  Creek  with  Glossopteris  hrownianaY2iV.prcecursor  ;  Wingen. 

Victoria. — Not  known. 

Tasmania. — The  Mersey  coal  field,  Don  River,  Spring  Bay, 
Valley  of  the  Derwent.  Various  species  of  Glossop)teris,  Phyllotheca 
hooheri,  Vertehraria  australis. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.  E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  53 

Newer  coal.     Trias  1 

Queensland. — Dawson  River  basin,  Comet  River'?  I  have  seen 
no  fossils  from  this  locality,  but  I  visited  a  coal  seam  near  Black- 
water  which  appeared  to  be  continuous  with  the  Dawson  basin. 
The  most  of  tlie  country  is  overlaid  by  trap  of  tertiary  origin. 
Tolmies  Range  or  plateau,  raises  the  Comet  basin  600  feet  above 
the  Dawson.  The  sandstones  are  of  the  nature  of  the  Dawson  and 
Newcastle  basin.  I  should  think  borings  might  meet  with  coal 
seams  anywhere  between  the  Dawson  and  Comet,  where  thick 
beds  of  trap  rock  do  not  oflfer  an  obstacle.   Cooktown?  Oakey  Creek. 

Hew  South  Wales. — Newcastle,  ferruginous  sandstones  with 
coarse  waterworn  conglomerate  ;  at  the  base  finer  conglomerates 
(J-inch  pebbles)  occasionally  blue  shales,  with  Phyllotheca 
australis,  Vertebraria  australis,  Glossopteris  hrowniana  and  six 
other  species,  SphenoiJteris  lohifolia,  var.  exilis,  Caulojjteris  adamsi, 
Noggeratkiopsis  media.  Mulimbula,  near  Newcastle,  with  the  same 
species  and  Zeugophyllites  elongatus  ;  Raymond  Terrace,  same  as 
Newcastle.  Blackman's  Swamp,  west  of  Sydney,  Glossopteris 
hrowniana,  G.  tceniopteroides,  G.  Wilkinsoni  ;  Bowenfels,  species 
of  Glossopteris  and  Vertebraria  with  Gangainopteris  clarkei, 
Brachyphyllum  australe  ;  Guntawang  (193  miles  west  of  Sydney), 
Gangamo'pteris  angustifolia  ;  lUawarra,  Glossopteris  many  species, 
and  Noggeratkiopsis  spathulata. 

Victoria. — Bacchus  Marsh  sandstones  with  Gang amopteris  angus- 
tifolia, G.  spathulata,  G.  obliqua.  These  beds  are  classed  by 
Feistmantel  with  the  Newcastle  beds  on  the  evidence  of  these 
fossils      No  others  have  been  found. 

Tasmania. — The  upper  and  lower  coal  have  not  been  distin- 
guished in  Tasmania,  though  doubtless  both  are  represented. 

Rhyetic  or  Lower  Lias. 

Queensland.  — Burnett  River. 

New  South  Wales. — Talbragar  River,  Ballinore,  near  Dubbo, 
with  Walchia  milneana,  Merianopteris  major,  Alethopteris  currani, 
Clifton,  Darling  Downs. 

Victoria  and  Tasmania  not  known 


54     on  the  fossil  flora  of  the  coal  deposits  of  australia, 

Upper  Lias  1 
Queensland,  Burrum  Kiver,  near  Maiyborongh.  I  have  seen 
no  well  preserved  plant  remains  from  these  beds,  but  they  seem  to 
nie  to  be  beneath  the  Ipswich  coal  seams  and  above  those  of 
Burnett  river  (60  miles  away).  Darling  Downs  near  Toowoomba, 
underneath  basaltic  rock,  the  same  flora  as  above  with  SagenojHeris 
rhoi/olia,  Talgai  with  Otozamites  mandeslohi  and  SagenoiMris 
rlioijolia,  and  near  Leyburn. 

Jurassic. 

Queensland. — Ipswich  coal  basin  has  an  area  extending  about 
50  miles  round  Moreton  Bay.  Fossils — Equisetum  rotiferum, 
Phyllotheca  concinna,  Vertehraria  equiseti,  Sjjhenopteris  elongata, 
aneimioides,Jlahellifolia,  A.  fl.  var.  erecta,  Trichomanides  laxuni.  T. 
spinifoliuvi,  Thin7ifeldia  indica  or  media,  T.  australis,  T. 
odontopteroideS)  T.falcata,  Cyclopteris  cu7ieata,  Aletliopter is  australis j 
Tcenioi^teris  daintreei,  T.  carritthersi,  Angiopteridium  ensis, 
Podozamites  lanceolatus,  Brachyphyllum  inamillai'e,  Cu'Miing- 
hamites  australis. 

New  South  Wales. — Clarence  River.  Tceniopteris  daintreei, 
Aletho2?teris  australis.  Carbonaceous  shales,  conglomerates,  and 
sandstones  of  great  thickness  but  no  coal  of  value. 

Victoria., — The  shales  belonging  apparently  to  this  formation 
occupy  (according  to  the  late  Government  geologist,  Mr.  A.  R.  C. 
Selwyn,  F.R.S.*)  four  distant  areas.  Wannon  and  Glenelg,  349 
square  miles.  Cape  Otway,  including  Barrabool  Hills  and  Indented 
Heads,  1882  square  miles;  Cape  Patterson  to  Traralgon  and 
Latrobe  Valley,  1436  square  miles,  Welshpool  315  square  miles. 
Very  few  sections  have  yet  been  found  that  show  clearly  the 
relation  of  this  carbonaceous  formation  to  the  older  strata  upon 
which  it  rests.  In  a  few  instances  it  is  clearly  seen  to  have  been 
deposited  on  granite,  the  detritus  of  which,  not  much  waterworn, 
enters  largely  into  the  composition  of  some  of  the  beds.  In  one 
case  in  the  Valley  of  Latrobe,  near  Traralgon,  it  is  found  resting 
on  the  upturned   edges   of   the  auriferous   Silurian  rocks,  and  the 

*  See  notes  on  Pliys.  Geo.,  &c.,  of  Victoria,  p.  17. 


liY    THE    REV.  J.  E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,    F.L.S.  55 

lower  beds  of  the  carbonaceous  formation  consist  of  thick  masses 
of  an  angnhir  brecciated  agglomerate  of  small  fragments  apparently- 
derived  from  the  adjacent  Silurian  strata.  A  great  similarity  in 
general  mineral  and  lithological  character  obtains  throughout  these 
rocks  in  the  several  districts.  Alternating  masses  of  hard  and 
thick  bedded  sandstone  and  argillaceous  shale,  occur  in  all  parts  of 
the  series,  and  occasionally  thin  bands  of  hard  grey  or  brown 
calcareous  rocks  are  met  with,  so  that  there  are  no  distinctive  or 
characteristic  groups  of  beds  which  would  render  their 
co-ordination  possible  in  widely  separated  localities.  The 
prevailing  color  of  the  strata,  especially  of  the  sandy  beds,  is  a 
dull  greenish  gray,  occasionally  passing  into  brown.  The  shales 
are  commonly  dark  grey,  blue  or  almost  black  ;  and  the  latter 
often  contain  a  good  deal  of  sulphide  of  iron.  Not  unfrequently 
large  portions  of  thick  branches  or  trunks  of  trees  are  met  with, 
horizontally  imbedded.  Calcareous  spar  occurs  either  in  veins  or 
forming  a  thin  coating  on  the  faces  of  the  joints,  and  concretionary 
nodules  of  carbonate  of  iron.  The  beds  are  often  spread  horizon- 
tally over  large  areas,  with  never  a  greater  dip  than  20  degrees. 
There  is  much  diagonal  or  false  bedding.  Thin  and  variable  seams 
of  coal  are  found  of  poor  quality,  and  never  permanent  as  far  as 
they  have  been  explored.  The  fossils  are  Phyllotheca  concinna  ? 
Podozainites  hardayi,  P.  longifoliuSj  P.  elUpticus^  Toeiimjjteris 
daintreeij  Alethopteris  australis,  Sjihenopteris  sp. 

Tasmania. — Jerusalem  basin,  with  the  above  fossils  and 
Thinnfeldia  odontopteroides,  Zeugophyllites  {Podozamites)  elongatus. 

Spring  Hill. — The  same  fossils.  Mr.  Brough  Smyth,  found 
Glossopteris  hrowniana  associated  with  the  same  fossils,  from  some 
of  these  beds.      Position  uncertain. 

Queensland. — Desert  sandstone,  an  eolian  formation,  in  isolated 
patches  all  over  the  colony.  Fossils  :  Coniferous  wood  converted 
into  brown  coal  and  jet.     Lies  above  Jurassic  coal. 

New  South  Wales. — Hawkesbury  sandstone,  a  similar  formation 
all  over  the  colony,  but  principally  massed  in  the  Blue  Mountains. 
Fossils  :  Thinnfeldia  odontopteroides,  T.  indica  ?  (Dub bo). 
Equisetaceous  stems.     Lies  above  Triassic  coal. 


56       ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

Victoria. — I  am  strongly  inclined  to  think  that  some  of  the 
carbonaceous  beds  of  Victoria  represent  these  beds. 

Tasmania. — Not  known.  I  have  not  included  any  of  the 
Wianamatta  beds  in  this  list,  as  I  am  uncertain  of  their  true 
position.  They  appear  to  contain  the  same  flora  as  the  Hawkes- 
bury  rocks,  and  cannot  be  distinguished  from  them. 

Position  Uncertain. 

Queensland — Plant  beds  at  Rosewood,  west  of  Rockhampton, 
with  Ftilophyllum  oligoneuruin,  Vertehraria  towarreoisis,  Sequoiites 
(?)  australis,  Peco2')teris,  Equisetum  and  PtilophylliiTn  have  hitherto 
been  known  only  from  India. 

General  Summary. — It  will  be  seen  from  the  foregoing  history 
of  the  literature  of  our  plant  fossils,  that  the  controversy  was 
narrowed  in  the  end  to  very  small  limits.  It  was  simply 
this  : — Are  the  characteristic  plants  of  the  Newcastle  coal  found 
under  the  marine  paleozoic  fossils.  Unless  we  reject  all  evidence, 
we  must  come  to  the  conclusion  that  they  are.  Secondly,  the 
question  is: — Have  these  plants  a  mesozoic  facies?  We  must 
certainly  answer  in  the  affirmative.  This  is  to  say  one  species, 
Glosso2oteris  browniana,  is  found  in  beds  as  high  as  the  Jurassic  in 
India,  and  is  a  common  fossil  in  lower  mesozoic  formations  there. 
The  genus  is  also  well  represented  in  the  mesozoic  rocks.  The 
other  instance  of  mesozoic  forms  in  the  Newcastle  beds  are 
doubtful.  Vertehraria  is  probably  the  root  of  an  Equisetaceous 
plant,  and  these  roots  present  much  the  same  appearance  in  every 
formation,  and,  therefore,  are  not  important  in  this  question. 
Phyllotheca  is  probably  the  plant  of  which  Vertehraria  is  the 
root.  The  Phyllotheca  of  the  Newcastle  coal  is  closely  allied  to 
Equisetum  but  with  very  long  terete  leaves  round  the  sheath. 
This  is  the  only  way  we  have  of  identifying  it.  Stems  alone  with- 
out the  leaves  are  such  as  might  belong  to  several  different  plants. 
It  may  be  safely  affirmed  that  the  Newcastle  species  of  Phyllotheca 
is  confined  to  the  upper  and  lower  coal,  and  that  any  identification 
above  that  depends  upon  the  stems  which  may  have  belonged  to 


BY    THE    REV.  J.  E.   TENISON-WOODS,   F.G.S.,   F.L.S.  57 

other  species.  Finally  there  is  a  conifer  named  Brachy2:)hyllum 
australe  found  at  Bowenfels,  with  Glossoineris  broivniajta.  The 
genus  is  mesozoic,  but  this  species  differs  in  important  particulars 
from  the  mesozoic  form. 

So  the  question  narrows  itself  into  the  occurrence  of  Glossoj^teris 
hroivnkma.  It  is  found  in  India  in  the  Lias  and  Jurassic  beds, 
but  only  one  instance  has  been  related  of  its  occurrence  in  the 
Jurassic  in  Australia.  That  is  Mr.  Brough  Smyth's  instance  from 
Jerusalem  in  Tasmania.  On  the  other  hand  we  have  a  well 
marked  Oolitic  flora  in  the  beds  just  named  in  Ipswich, 
Queensland,  and  in  many  places  in  Victoria.  The  fossils  of 
this  formation,  such  as  Thinnfeldia,  Alethopteris,  Toerdopteris, 
Equisetum  and  Podozamites  are  never  found  in  any  of  the  Newcastle 
series.  There  is  no  confusion  of  type  whatever  between  the  two 
formations  except  in  the  case  of  Gl.  hroioniana.  We  may  explain 
this  by  supposing  one  of  the  two  things.  1.  The  persistence  of 
this  type  through  a  very  long  period  of  time  in  Australia,  where 
we  have  the  traces  of  its  earliest  existence,  and  finally  dying  out 
in  India.  2.  Or  we  may  suppose  that  the  coal  of  Australia 
represents  an  accumulation  during  a  vast  unbroken  period, 
beginning  in  the  Permian  and  terminating  in  the  Jurassic  epoch. 
If  this  has  been  the  case,  there  are  wanting  many  leaves  of  the 
history.  The  break  is  very  nearly  complete  between  our  Trias  and 
Jurassic. 

Dr.  Feistmantel,  whose  experience  among  the  coal  plants  of 
Europe,  India,  and  Australia  is  very  great,  is  inclined  to  regard 
our  upper  Newcastle  beds  as  Trias.  The  marine  fossils  beneath 
them  are  more  Carboniferous  than  Permian,  and  though  the  coal 
plants  are  evidently  different,  they  are  not  like  the  Carboniferous. 
It  is  hard  to  account  for  this  anomaly.  In  the  present  day,  the 
Australian  Flora  is  several  epochs  behind  Europe  ;  then  it  must 
have  a  little  in  advance. 

The  eastern  side  of  Australia  from  north  to  south  is  very  rich 
in  coal,  and,  what  is  unusual,  the  Jurassic  beds  produce  abundance 
of  good  fuel  in  compact  workable  seams.     The  resources  in  this 


58       ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

respect  of  New  South  Wales  and  Queensland  are  comparatively 
inexhaustible.  These  mineral  riches  must  surely  lead  in  a  re- 
markable degree  to  great  future  commercial  prosperity. 

List  of  Fossils. 
Before  commencing  the  diagnosis  I  should  state  something  as 
to  the  manner  in  which  the  coal  fossils  occur  in  the  various  beds. 
As  a  rule,  though  plant  impressions  are  abundant  above  and  below 
every  coal  seam,  they  are  seldom  perfect  enough  for  determina- 
tion. There  is  an  exception  to  this  in  the  case  of  Glossoj^teris 
hrowniana.  It  is  most  abundant  on  the  shale  above  all  the  coal 
seams  about  Newcastle,  and  always  beautifully  preserved  in  black 
coal  impressions  on  a  blue  ground  showing  the  net  venation  well. 
There  are  also  brown  impressions  on  a  buff-colored  rock.  In  the 
Ipswich  coal  seams  (Queensland)  the  plants  are  often  most 
abundant  in  a  black  shale.  It  is  in  this  manner  Podozamites 
distans,  is  often  found,  and  Thinnfeldia.  But  the  latter  with 
other  ferns  are  found  as  yellow,  red,  or  pale  brown  impressions  on 
a  hg.rd  blue  slaty  rock.  In  this  the  venation  is  rarely  well  pre- 
served. The  red  impressions  are  entirely  formed  of  per-oxide  of 
iron  easily  falling  into  powder,  in  which  nerve  marks  are  never 
preserved.  This  is  common  at  Rosewoorl  (Ipswdch).^'  At  the 
same  place  there  is  a  dull  yellow  very  soft  clay  with  numerous 
black  impressions  of  plants,  well  preserved  but  brittle.  In  the 
Bundaberg  coal  seams  the  fossils  are  black  shining  imprints  on  a 
hard  blue  shale.  At  Tivoli  the  plants  are  in  a  soft  grey  shale 
with  cuts  like  clay  or  breaks  into  fine  povvder.  The  Vertehraria 
fossils  in  this  are  only  impressions  of  the  same  colour  with  rarely 
a  little  coal  entangled  in  the  marks ;  the  other  fossils  consist  of 
impressions  of  plants  of  a  pale  brown.  At  Darling  Downs,  near 
Toowoomba,  the  fossils  are  all  in  limonite  or  ironstone  concretions, 
evidently  derived  from  a    volcanic  rock.       They  are  either  leaf 

*  I  must  put  readers  on  their  guard  about  this  name.  There  are  two 
places  called  Rosewood  in  Queensland,  and  both  distinguished  by  rich 
plant  beds.  They  are  nearly  400  miles  apart — one  is  a  railway  station 
about  10  miles  from  Ipswich,  the  other  on  the  railway  25  miles  from 
Eockhampton. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.   E.   TENISON- WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  59 

impressions  of  a  bright  red  colour  on  a  brown  stone,  or  bright 
yellow  on  a  red  ground.  At  Rosewood,  Rockhampton,  the  im- 
pressions are  in  a  hard  siliceous  chert  without  a  trace  of  carbon- 
aceous matter.  In  this  the  impressions  are  sharp  and  very  hard 
with  the  venation  beautifully  displayed. 

In  the  determination  of  plants  I  have  followed  closely  the 
system  and  nomenclature  of  Schimper  in  his  Paleontologie 
Vegetale.  Some  of  the  plant  remains  have  involved  me  in 
considerable  doubt,  but  in  giving  names  and  descriptions  I  am  far 
from  supposing  that  my  views  of  their  character  will  be  accejDted 
by  more  experienced  fossil  botanists.  I  think,  however,  something 
has  been  done  when  a  name  and  a  diagnosis  has  been  recorded, 
so  that  similar  fossils  may  be  recognized  elsewhere. 

List  of  fossils   here  described. 

Equisetace^. 

Phyllotheca  australis.     Brongn. 

P.  ramosa.     M'Coy. 

F.  hcokeri.     M'Coy. 

P.   concinna.     nobis. 

P.  carnosa.     nobis. 

Equisetum  rotifer  urn.      nobis. 
Vertebrm'ia  equiseti.     nobis. 
Vertebraria  towai^rensis.     nobis. 

V. australis.     M'Coy. 

Calamites  radiatus.     Brongn. 

C.  varians.     Germar. 

Annularia  australis.     Feistm. 
Sphenophyllum  sq). 

FiLICES. 

Sphenopteris  lobifolia.     Morris. 

S. alata.     Brongn. 

S.   .  var.  exilis.     Brongn. 

S.  hastata.     M'Coy. 

S.   gemnanus.      M'Coy. 


60      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

Sjphenoi^teris  i:)lumosa.      M'Coy. 

8. flexuosa.     M'Coy. 

S.  iguanensis.     M'Coy. 

S.  elongata.     Carrutliers. 

aS'.    crebra,  nobis. 

/S.   (Aneiinioides)  flahellifolia.    nobis. 
8.  f  Aneimioides)  var.  erecta.     nobis. 

S.  ,  glossophylla.     nobis. 

Trichomanides  laxum.     nobis. 

T.    spinifolium.     nobis. 

Trichomanides  haileyana,  nobis. 
Aneimites  iguanensis.     M'Coy. 
Archceopteris  howitti.     M'Coy. 

A  wilkinsoni.     Feistm. 

Rhacopteris  ince,quilatera.     Goeppert, 

R.   intermedia.     Feistm. 

R.   r'demeri.      Feistm. 

R,  septentrionalis.     Feistm. 

Neuropteris  (^Aneimidium  ?)  australis,  nobis. 

Thinnfeldia  media,     nobis. 

T.  australis.     nobis. 

T. odontopteroides.     Morr. 

T.  falcata.     nobis. 

Odontopteris  microphylla.     M'Coy. 

Cyclopteris  cuneata.     Carruthers. 

Pecopteris  tenuifolia,     M'Coy. 

Alethopteris  australis.     Morr. 

A.   currani.     nobis. 

A. concinna.       nobis. 

Merianopteris  major.     Feistm. 

Tceniopteris  daintrei.     M'Coy. 

T.  carj'uihersi.     nobis. 

Macrotmniopteris  wianamattce.     Feistm. 

Angiopteridium  ensis.      Oldham. 

Glossopteris  browniana.     Brongn. 

O.  linearis.     M^Coy 


BY    THE    REV.  J.   E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  61 

Glossopteris  ampla     Dana 

G. reticulata.     Dana. 

G.    elongata.     Dana. 

G.   —  cordata.     Dana. 

G.  tcenio2)teroides     Feistm. 

G.   loilkinsoni     Feistm. 

G. elegans.     Feistm.  # 

G. ^:)m?iOB'ya.     Feistm. 

G.   clarkei.     Feistm. 

Gangamopteris  angustifolia.     M'Coj. 

G. spathulata.     M'Coy. 

G.   ohliqua.      M'Coy. 

G.   darkeana.     Feistm. 

Sagenojoteris  rhoifolia.     Presl. 

S.   tasmanica.     Feistm. 

Gleichenia  diibia.     Feistm. 

G.  lineata.     nobis 

Jeanpaulia  hidens.     nobis. 
Caulopteris  adamsi.     Feistm. 

Lycopodiace^. 
Lepidodendron  australe.     M'Coj. 

L.  nothum.     linger. 

L. veltheimianum.     Sternb. 

Cyclostigma  australe.     Feistm. 

Cycadace^. 
Podozamites  harkleyi.     M'Coy. 

P.  ellipticus.     M'Coy. 

P.   — longifolius.     M'Coy. 

P. lanceolatu.<i.     Lindley  &  H. 

Zeugophyllites  (Podozamites  ?)  elongatus.     Morr. 
Ptilophyllwni  oligoneurum.     nobis. 
Otozamites  mandeslohi.     Kurr. 
^^oggeratkiopsis  spathulata.     Dana. 

iV^. prisca.     Feistm. 

Cordaites  australis.     M'Coy. 


62     on  the  fossil  flora  of  the  coa.l  deposits  of  australia, 

Conifers. 

Brachyphyllmn  australe.     Feistm. 

B. mamillare  var.  crassum.    nobis. 

Sequoiites  ?  australis,  nobis 
Walchia  milneana.    nobis 
Citnninghamites  australis.     nobis. 
Araucarites  i-)olycaTi:>a.     nobis. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  foregoing  list  that  some  European  and 
Indian  forms  have  been  added  to  tlie  Australian  coal  flora.  This 
is  especially  observable  in  the  Jurassic  beds.  Brachyjyhyllum 
mamillare  var.  crassurn  and  Podozamites  lanceolatus,  Europe.  An- 
giopteridium  ensis  and  Merianopteris  major  of  India,  are  instances, 
and  no  doubt  others  will  be  found.  The  occurrence  of  the  genus 
Ptilo2-)hyllum  in  Australia  is  very  remarkable.  It  will  be  seen 
that  our  continent  is  particularly  rich  in  species  of  Thinnfeldia 
and  Ferns  of  a  similar  type  in  the  Jurassic  rocks,  while  we  are 
equally  rich  in  species  of  Glossopteris  in  the  earlier  periods. 
Altogether  the  fossil  botany  of  Australia  reveals  a  former  con- 
nection of  its  flora  with  Europe  through  India,  when  the  vegetation 
of  the  earth  was  much  more  uniform  than  it  is  now. 

Explanation  of  Terms  used  in  the  Diagnosis  of  Fossils. 

Rhizome. — The  fleshy,  scaly,  prostrate  stem,  producing  roots  from 
the  under  side,  and  fronds  from  the  upper,  beginning  with  the 

Stipes  or  main  stem,  which  generally  branches  into  sub-divisions, 
each,  of  which  is  called  a  Rachis.  The  frond  may  be  one  entire 
leaf,  when  it  is  called  simple^  or  once  sub-divided  (jnnnate),  twice, 
thrice,  or  more  often  (bi-pinnate,  pinnatifid,  multifid,  &c.). 

In  compound  fronds  the  primary  divisions  are  called  the  ^:>m7ice, 
and  if  more  than  once  divided  the  ultimate  divisions  are  termed 


Costa. — The  midrib  of  simple  fronds  or  pinnae  or  pinnules. 
Veins. — The  secondary  nerves  which  emerge  from  the  costa. 
Venules. — First  sub-divisions  of  the  veins. 
Veinlets. — Secondary  sub-divisions . 


BY    THE    REV.  J.   E.  TENISON-WOODS,   F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  63 

In  some  families  the  cost-a  is  central,  and  in  others  it  is  not  in 
the  centre  and  is  called  lateral. 

Evanescent, — Not  reaching  the  apex  or  margin. 


Equisetin^. 

The  plants  which  compose  this  class  (says  Schimper)  are  only  at 
present  represented  by  one  genus,  that  of  the  Equisetiims  or  Horse- 
tails, which  itself  is  not  directly  related  to  any  other  type  of 
vascular  cryptogams.  There  exists  but  one  genus  in  the  present 
day  with  only  a  few  species,  which  are  united  together  by  very 
concise  characters,  and  they  do  not  pass  by  any  degrees  into  any 
other  genus.  These  plants  play  a  very  insignificant  part  in  the 
world's  vegetation  just  now,  but  in  the  coal  period  and  lower 
mesozoic  it  was  not  so.  Both  in  species  and  individuals  the 
Equisetacese  played  a  most  important  part.  Tn  fact  the  great  mass 
of  the  coal  is  supposed  to  have  been  formed  by  them. 

The  fossils  are  divided  into  two  orders,  the  Equisetacese  and  the 
Calamitese.  The  former  is  thus  defined  :  herbaceous  or  arborescent 
plants ;  stems  rising  from  an  underground  articulate  branched 
rooting  rhizome,  nearly  always  fistular.  Ehizome — underground, 
jointed,  branched,  rooting.  Stems — jointed,  nearly  always  hollow. 
Joints — separated  by  a  diaphragm.  Leaves — connate  into  a  sheath, 
rarely  separate  at  the  ends,  forming  a  cylindrical  covering  often 
grooved  lengthwise,  externally  permeated  by  a  double  series  of 
alternating  lacunae.  BroMches  arising  beneath  the  base  of  the 
verticillate  sheath,  simple,  in  whorls,  or  wanting.  Reproductive 
organs — arising  from  a  lobed  fugacious  prothallus.  Fructification 
— in  a  terminal  spike.  Receptacles  pedicillate,  verticillate  under 
hexagonal  shields.  Sporangia — in  groups  round  the  perpendicular 
pedicels,  opening  laterally. 

The  greatest  development  of  this  family  is  in  the  Carboniferous 
and  Permian  formations.  There  it  is  represented  by  a  great 
number  of  genera  and  species  which  have  no  forms  at  all  like 
them  in  the  present  vegetation,  such  as  Calamites,  Asterophyllites 


64       ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

and  Spheno2)hyllum.'^'  They  are  the  coal-forming  plants  of  the 
Carboniferous  period  and  some  of  the  names  are  used  by  Prof. 
Geinitz  as  typical  of  certain  zones.  There  is  no  evidence  of  the 
existence  of  any  of  the  three  named  genera  after  the  Permian 
period.  Dr.  Feistmantel  is  of  opinion  that  even  the  genus 
Eqidsetum  was  present  in  the  coal  formation.  Of  its  presence  in 
the  mesozoic  strata  he  says  there  can  be  no  doubt,  but  in  that 
case  it  is  associated  with  genera  which  are  not  found  in  the  coal 
measures. 

The  mesozoic  Equisetacece  are  confined  to  the  genera  Equisetum^ 
Schizoneura  and  PhyUotheca.  Sc1iizoneu7'a  has  not  yet  been  found  in 
Australia  :  of  Phyllotlieca  I  shall  treat  subsequently.  Equisetum 
is  a  genus  which  has  not  hitherto  been  found  in  Australian  coal 
deposits  ;  I  have  now  to  record  its  occurrence  abundantly  at  the 
Walloon  mine,  Ipswich,  Queensland. 

Before  describing  the  species  it  is  necessary  to  remark  that 
Messrs.  Morris  and  Oldham  did  not  consider  that  they  were 
justified  in  using  the  word  Equisetum,  as  they  were  not  sufficiently 
sure  of  the  identity  between  the  fossil  and  living  genera.  They 
employed  the  term  Equisetites  (Flora  E/ajmahaiensis  tab.  II  and 
XXXY.),  but  gave  only  a  figure  without  any  description. 
Saporta  and  Schimper,  and  according  to  Feistmantel,  many  others, 
use  the  word  Equisetum,  which  I  employ  in  the  sense  they  do. 

As  the  genus  Equisetum  or  Horsetail  (French  Prele,  German 
Schachtelhalm),  is  not  known  in  Australia,  a  few  words  about  it 
may  be  useful.  They  are  leafless  branched  plants,  with  a  striated 
stem  in  the  outer  sheath  of  which  a  very  large  quantity  of  silica  is 
secreted.  The  stem  is  easily  separated  into  joints,  where  it  is 
found  that  each  joint  has  a  whorl  of  teeth  forming  a  sheath.  It 
is  fistular,  having  many  longitudinal  cavities  in  its  circumference, 
but  is  coated  externally  with  a  layer  of  hard  woody  tubes,  from 


*  These  are  the  views  of  Brongniart,  Suckow,  Feistmantel  and  others 
but  Prof.  Williamson  and  Prof.  Renault  (Paris)  both  regard  the  two  last 
named  genera  as  nearer  Lycopods  than  any  other  plant.  See  Feistmantel, 
"  Jurassic  Flora  of  the  Rajmahal  group,  p.  10  (62.)" 


BY    THE    REV.  J.    E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  65 

which  plates  of  a  similar  nature  project  towards  the  centre 
partially  dividing  the  longitudinal  cavities,  much  like  the  divisions 
in  many  reeds,  canes,  and  grasses,  except  that  they  are  not  quite 
closed.  There  are  no  leaves,  properly  speaking,  but  the  shoots  are 
repeatedly  divided  with  whorls  of  branches  and  branchlets  at  the 
articulations.  The  fructification  is  in  a  terminal  spike,  consisting 
of  numerous  closely  packed  peltate  scales,  bearing  capsules 
(sporanges)  of  one  kind  underneath,  very  much  like  the  peltate 
fructification  of  Liverworts  {Marchantia).  The  sporanges  are  from 
six  to  nine  to  each  peltate  scale  of  the  fruit  spike  and  they  are 
placed  round  the  margin  of  the  mushroom  like  top  of  the  scale, 
parallel  with  its  stalk.  The  spores  in  the  sporanges  are  very 
minute  and  numerous,  and  they  split  when  exposed  into  four 
elastic  filaments  called  elaters,  which  is  what  happens  in  the 
Liverworts. 

This  peculiar  kind  of  jointed  leaf  is  not  unlike  the  Casuarina, 
or  sheoak  of  the  colony,  and  the  heads  of  fructification  resemble 
some  Cycads,  but  the  resemblance  is  merely  external,  for  the  plants 
have  little  else  in  common.  But  on  the  other  hand  the  natural 
affinities  of  the  plants  are  with  Ferns,  and  the  spores  germinate 
like  them,  producing  a  prothallus  which  bears  archegones  and 
antheridia.  The  structure  of  the  root  and  stem  is  very  different 
from  that  of  Ferns.  In  an  early  stage  there  is  a  central  column  of 
cellular  tissue  in  the  rhizome,  from  which  eight  plates  radiate, 
being  connected  with  an  external  cylinder  of  the  same  nature, 
having  between  them  distinct  cavities,  which  is  the  structure 
observed  in  many  fossil  Calamites.  But  the  vessels  are  annular  and 
not  scalariform  as  in  Ferns. 

The  Horsetails  are  found  in  most  parts  of  the  world  except 
Australia  and  New  Zealand.  As  a>  rule  they  grow  in  moist  or 
marshy  places,  but  some  flourish  well  in  loose  shifting  sands,  and 
one  is  said  to  grow  to  a  height  of  between  20  and  30  feet  (JE. 
giganteum).     They  never  reach  the  size  of  our  fossil  Horsetails. 

The  closest  resemblance  exists  between  the  fossil  and  living 
genera.     The  mode  of  fructification  of  Calamites  binneyi,  Carr.  is 

E 


66       ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

similar  in  plan  to  that  of  the  living  Equisetum  arvense,  L.,  but 
there  are  two  elaters  instead  of  four,  and  the  peltate  scales  are 
protected  by  paleaceous  glumes. 

The  genus  Equisetum  is  thus  defined  by  Linnaeus*. 

Equisetum  (No.   1284). 

Fructification  es  in  spicam  ovato-ohlongam  digestoe.  Singula 
orhiculata  hasi  dehiscens  pluribus  valvulis,  ajnce  piano  joeltato 
connexis. 

This,  it  will  be  perceived,  makes  no  reference  to  the  form  of  the 
plant,  but  only  to  the  spike  and  the  sporangia.  It  was  included 
amongst  the  Filices. 

The  definition  of  Schimper  f  remedies  this.  It  is  '^  Fructus 
spicceformis  cylindraceus,  ohlongus,  sen  ovatiis,  sporangiorum  recep- 
taculis  peltoidis.     Folia  in  vaginam  connata. 

There  are  nearly  twenty  species  of  this  genus  described  from 
Mesozoic  strata,  besides  some  of  modern  age.  The  Mesozoic 
forms  are  from  the  Trias,  Lias  and  Oolite,  the  latter  principally. 

Equisetum  rotiferum,  n.s.,  pi.  vi.,  fig.  5,  6.  Stem  cylindrical, 
closely  and  faintly  grooved,  joints  approximate  below,  distant 
above.  Leaves  carinate,  connate  into  a  sheath,  the  teeth  of  which  are 
short,  flat,  rounded,  of  equal  width  throughout,  adpressed  to  the 
stem.  The  diaphragmata  of  the  joints  and  leaf  scars  of  the  branches 
are  very  distinct,  round,  with  radiate  lacunae,  varying  from  18  to 
30,  and  a  central  orifice.     Fructification  unknown. 

Yery  abundant  in  the  grey  fire  clays  above  the  first  seam  at  the 
Walloon  mine  near  Ipswich,  Queensland  t  The  casts  of  the 
diaphragmata   are    especially    numerous,    and    have    a  singularly 

*  Genera  Plantarum,  p.  554.  Edit.  cur.  Keichard,  Frankfort  on  the 
Maine,  1778. 

+  Paleontologie  vegetale,  Vol.  I.,  p.  259. 

X  The  Walloon  mine  is  about  10  miles  west  of  Ipswich  and  rather  more 
than  that  distance  from  the  Bundamba  and  other  seams,  which  are  the 
oldest  Ipsmch  coal  mines,  and  the  seams  from  which  most  of  the  fossils  pre- 
viously described  have  been  taken.  The  relations  between  the  two  beds 
have  not  been  ascertained,  but  I  have  no  doubt  that  they  all  belong  to  one 
carbonaceous  deposit,  and  there  seems  to  be  no  break. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.  E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  67 

pretty  and  ornamental  appearance.  The  follow' ing  is  the  explana- 
tion of  their  structure  :  In  the  stems  of  Equesetacese  there  is  a 
double  series  of  lacunae  or  longitudinal  empty  spaces,  the  exterior 
of  which  corresponds  to  the  external  ribs,  and  the  interior  to  the 
grooves.  In  Lindley  and  Hutton's  Fossil  Flora,  vol.  3,  p.  186 
(plate  180),  there  is  a  figure  of  one  of  these  diaphragmata 
magnified.  It  was  described  by  them  as  Equisetum  laterale, 
though  with  the  observation  that  the  authors  were  by  no  means 
sure  that  it  was  an  Eqidsetum.  "  What  is  most  remarkable,"  say 
the  authors  "  at  irregular  distances  between  the  articulations  are 
found  little  round  disks  with  lines  radiating  from  a  common  centre, 
something  in  the  way  of  the  phragma  of  a  Ccdamites.  These  disks 
which  look  like  the  scars  left  behind  the  branches  that  had  fallen 
off,  are  not  stationed  at  the  axils  or  articulations,  but  appear  at 
uncertain  intervals  along  the  internodes,  and  are  found  less 
frequently  on  the  stem  than  loose  in  the  shale,  without  any 
apparent  connection  with  the  plant.  This  is  a  singular  fact,  and 
would  lead  one  to  think  that  the  disks  hardly  belong  to  the  stems 
with  which  they  are  found  associated. 

With  regard  to  the  same  I  translate  the  following  from  Schimper 
(vol.  1,  p.  285).  "The  radiating  disks  that  are  seen  in  so  many 
specimens  above  the  articulations,  and  which  have  given  the  species 
its  name,  have  been  figured  and  described  by  authors  without 
explanation,  or  as  the  scars  of  the  branches.  But  they  are  only 
the  impressions  of  the  diaphragmata,  either  reversed  or  somewhat 
pressed  out  above.  The  same  thing  is  constantly  seen  in  Annularia 
and  even  in  Equisetum,  amongst  others  in  Equisetuyn  milnsteriy 
where  the  large  circular  impressions  have  been  equally  taken  for 
branch  scars.  The  description  given  by  the  authors  of  the  fossil 
flora  agrees  well  with  the  character  of  diaphragmata,  and  not  with 
those  of  scars.  M.  Andre  "^^  figures  a  diaphragm  surmounting 
a  reversed  diaphragm.  Many  of  these  disks  are  scattered  over 
the  same  piece  of  stone.       M.  Andre  considers  these  as   isolated 

*  Foss.  Flora  Siebenburgens  u.  des  Banates,  plate  VI.  Equisetites 
lateralis. 


68       ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

scars.  But  we  never  see  isolated  scars,  whereas  isolated  diaphrag- 
mata  of  Eqidsetum  of  all  sizes  are  very  common  in  the  upper  Lias 
of  France  and  Germany  (Gres  bigarre  and  Keuper)."  But  the 
most  convincing  thing  of  all  is  that  we  find  such  diaphragmata  loose 
in  the  stems  of  living  Equiseta.  In  places  where  these  plants  grow 
abundantly  in  the  loose  damp  mould  around  the  roots  abundance 
of  these  disks  of  every  character  may  be  seen. 

In  the  present  species  it  will  be  noticed  that  there  is  only  one 
circle  of  radiated  lacunae,  and  a  central  tube  which  corresponds  to 
the  second.  In  the  figure  of  Lindley  and  Hutton  there  are  two 
concentric  circles  and  no  central  hollow.  In  the  figures  given  by 
Feistmantel  of  Eqidsetum  rajmahalensis  ^  (Eqidsetites,  Morris  and 
Oldham),  at  fig.  3  there  is  represented  a  diaphragm  which  is  on 
the  same  plan  as  our  fossil .  There  is  an  outer  radiating  circle  of 
lacunae  and  an  inner  central  hollow.  The  species  are,  however, 
diff'erent.  The  outer  ring  of  lacunae  was  in  this  fossil  small  and 
bead-like,  and  it  does  not  appear  in  the  impressions,  because  it  is 
along  the  outer  line  of  spaces  that  the  separation  of  the  diaphragm 
took  place.  Traces  of  it  may  be  seen  in  those  specimens  which 
are  well  preserved,  and  where  the  diaphragm  is  seen  in  position, 
which  is  rare.  One  such  instance  is  given  in  fig.  2  of  Feistmantel's 
plate,  already  referred  to. 

The  size  and  shape  of  these  diaphragmata  show  what  were  the 
dimensions  and  form  of  the  stems.  They  were  perfectly  round, 
and  the  internal  furrows  were  close  together,  about  25  in  a  stem 
two- thirds  of  an  inch  in  diameter.  There  are  stems  broader  than 
that,  but  they  have  been  flattened  out.  In  the  largest  specimen 
in  my  possession  there  are  three  or  four  internodes,  and  some  of 
them  are  as  long  as  twice  the  width  of  the  stem. 

The  line  of  division  between  the  connate  teeth  of  the  sheath  can 
be  traced  to  the  base  of  the  internode.  The  leaves  are  thus  seen 
to  be  longer  than  the  width  of  the  stem,  and  they  are  marked  at 
their  margins  by  a  fine  raised  line.     They  are   of  equal  width  for 

*  Memoirs  of  the  Geological  Survey  of  India.  Paleontologia  Indica.  Fossil 
Flora  of  the  Gondwana  system.  Oldham  and  Feistmantel,  Vol.  I.,  plate  11, 
fig.  3. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.  E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  69 

their  wliole  extent,  and  the  free  ends  are  obtusely  pointed,  rounded 
or  even  flat ;  but  this  may  depend  on  the  state  of  preservation  of 
the  specimens,  for  none  of  the  fragments  were  well  preserved.  The 
color  of  the  fossils  being  so  near  to  that  of  the  shale,  made  it  more 
than  usually  difficult  to  determine  the  more  delicate  details  of 
structure. 

From  all  the  specimens  I  have  seen,  I  cannot  come  to  any  other 
conclusion  than  that  the  stems  were  smooth  and  not  fluted  in  any 
way,  except  on  the  outside  of  the  spathe  or  sheath  above  the 
diaphragm,  where  the  separate  teeth  make  divisions  or  grooving. 

Other  parts  of  this  plant,  such  as  the  rhizome,  roots  and 
fructifi-cations  have  not  been  found  with  certainty,  and  therefore 
no  well-founded  comparison  can  be  made.  It  is  very  near  to 
E.  rajmahalensis,  which  is  also  considered  to  be  closely  allied  to 
E.  munsterij  Stbg.  In  this  species,  the  stem  does  not  seem  to  be 
fluted  in  some  specimens,  but  there  is  a  manifest  difierence  in  the 
diaphragmata,  and  the  teeth  of  the  spathe  are  keeled,  which  is  not 
the  case  in  our  fossil.  E.  munsteri,  is  now  recognized  as  identical 
with  many  subsequently  named  species,  such  as  E.  moniliformis 
Prsl.,  E.  alternatus,  Prsl,  Calamites  liaso-keuperianus,  Braun. 
It  is  very  common  in  the  Rhaetic  strata  of  Europe,  but  also  ascends 
into  the  Lias.  E.  rajmahalensis,  is  referred  by  Feistmantel  to  the 
Liassic  period. 

In  the  rocks  of  the  same  period  of  Europe  we  have,  E. 
gamingianum  Etting.,  and  E.  ungeri,  Etting.,  both  of  which  have 
smooth  stems,  but  the  first  has  very  narrow  teeth,  and  the  second 
has  them,  though  broad,  produced  into  a  long  rigid  subulate  point. 
I  do  not  think  it  necessary  to  institute  any  other  comparisons, 
with  such  species  such  as  E.  arenaceum,  as  they  diverge  widely  from 
our  type. 

Phyllotheca  Brongt. 

In  the  same  family  of  Equisetacece,  is  placed  the  genus 
Phyllotheca,  which  is  distinguished  from  Equisetum  by  the  sheath 
being  prolonged  into  long  linear  leaves.  The  distinction  may  be 
better  borne  in  mind  by  the  following  table. 


70      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

EquiseUmi. — Sheath  undivided,  terminating  in  short  adpressed 
teeth. 

Phyllotheca. — Sheath  terminating  in  long  linear  narrow  teeth, 
divero;in2:  from  the  stem  in  whorls. 

Brongniart  in  his  definition,  speaks  of  them  as  simple  straight 
articulate  stems,  surrounded  at  regular  intervals  by  sheaths  applied 
to  the  stem  as  in  Equisetum,  but  terminating  in  long  thread-like 
leaves,  which  replace  the  short  teeth  of  the  Horsetails.  These 
leaves  are  erect,  or  more  often  spread  out  horizontally,  or  even 
reflected.  The  leaves  are  linear,  acute,  without  any  distinct 
neuration,  and  at  least,  twice  as  long  as  the  sheath.  The  sheaths 
themselves  show  faint  longitudinal  grooves  which  disappear 
towards  the  base,  and  which  seem  to  correspond  to  the  intervals 
between  the  leaves,  as  the  grooves  on  the  sheaths  of  Equisetiim 
correspond  to  the  intervals  between  the  teeth.  The  stem  in  the 
space,  which  separates  the  teeth,  appears  smooth,  but  on  the 
fragments  of  larger  ones  which  probably  belonged  to  older 
individuals  of  the  same  plant,  there  are  regular  stride,  almost 
like  those  seen  on  Catamites. 

In  Lindley  and  Hutton's  Fossil  Flora  (Vol.  II.,  p.  89)  the 
following  passage  occurs  : —  "  A  little  known  plant  called  Phyllo- 
theca australis,  found  in  5he  coal  of  New  South  Wales,  is  described 
by  M.  A.  Brongniart  as  consisting  of  simple,  straight,  articulated 
stems,  surrounded  at  intervals  with  sheaths  pressed  close  to  the 
stem,  as  in  Equisetum,  but  terminated  by  long  linear  leaves,  which 
stand  in  the  place  of  the  short  teeth  of  the  sheath  of  Equisetum.  We 
have  ascertained  from  the  examination  of  specimens  communicated 
by  Prof.  Buckland,  that  in  some  respects  M.  Brongniart's  description 
of  Phyllotheca  is  inaccurate,  and  that  the  leaves  instead  of  spring- 
ing from  the  edge  of  a  sheath  arise  immediately  from  the  stem,  as 
in  the  fossil  under  consideration  (Hippu,rites  gigantea),  so  that  the 
two  would  appear  to  be  nearly  allied.  But  in  addition  to  the 
whorl  of  distinct  leaves,  in  Phyllotheca  there  is  a  sheath  originating 
within  them,  and  closely  embracing  the  stem,  to  which  it  gives 
the  appearance  of  the  barren  shoot  of  an  Equisetum,  with  its 
whorls  of  slender  branches  on  the  outside  of  a  toothed  sheath." 


BY    THE    REV.  J.   E.  TENISOX-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  71 

Prof.  M'Coy  ^'  confirms  the  original  observation  of  Brongniart, 
and  shows  how  the  mistake  of  Lindley  and  Hutton  had  arisen. 
There  can  be  little  doubt  that  the  sheaths  are  as  Brongniart 
originally  stated.  But  Prof.  M'Coy  also  pointed  out  another 
peculiarity  in  Phyllotheca,  which  was  that  the  branches  instead  of 
arising  outside  the  sheath,  as  in  Eqidsetuin,  arise  from  within,  and 
are  therefore  in  a  certain  sense  axillary.  According  to  T. 
Schmalhausen's  figures "("  of  the  Siberian  forms,  the  branches 
originated  above  the  articulation  of  the  stem.  Prof.  M'Coy  also 
thought  that  he  perceived  some  remains  of  an  infloresence  like 
Casuarina,  but  this  has  not  been  confirmed  by  any  botanist. 

The  relations  of  Phyllotheca  are  of  the  closest  kind  with 
Equisetum,  from  which  the  genus  cannot  be  said  to  differ  in  any 
thing  except  the  form  of  the  leaf.  Associated  with  Phyllotheca 
sibirica  are  small  radiating  ribbed  disks,  like  those  previously 
described  in  our  own  Equisetum  rotiferum.  The  species  is 
distinguished  by  shorter  and  less  reflexed  leaves  than  other  species, 
rendering  the  resemblances  to  Equisetum  still  closer.  It  was 
described  and  figured  by  Prof.  0.  Heer,  in  1876  and  1878,  from 
specimens  collected  in  the  Government  of  Irkutsk,  Siberia,  from 
Jurassic  beds.  % 

The  genus  is  most  numerously  and  widely  distributed  in  the 
Jurassic  beds,  but  it  ranges  down  to  the  paleozoic  formations,  and 
probably  the  oldest  rocks  in  which  it  has  been  found  are  the 
Newcastle  beds.  There  are  eleven  species  described,  but  of  these 
some  are  mere  varieties.  Thus  the  three  Australian  plants  are  but 
two.  There  are  two  mentioned  as  from  India,  and  seven  from 
Siberia,  all  from  Jurassic  beds,  but  in  widely  separated  localities. 

The  Indian  specimens  of  Phyllotheca  are  confined  to  two  species, 
P.  indica,  Bunbury,  and  P.  rohusta,  Feistmantel.  The  first  is 
from  Nagpur,  but  the  specimens  are  few  and  incomplete. 
They    are  fragments   of    foliated    stems    and    branches.       These 

*  Ann.  of  Nat.  Hist. ,  Vol.  XX.,  p  153. 

t  Beitriige  zur  Juraflora  Russlands,  Mem.  de  lAcad.  Imp.  des    Sciences 
de  St.  Petersburg,  7th  series,  PI.  XXVII.,  pp.  12,  46.  62. 
X  See  Nachtrage  zur  Juraflora  von  Irkutsk  p.  4.  Flora  Floss,  Arctica,  vol.  V. 


72       ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

are  partial  sheaths,  and  the  leaves  are  somewhat  short  (rarely 
exceeding  two-thirds  of  an  inch),  but  generally  longer  than 
the  sheaths,  at  first  erect,  then  spreading  out,  and  at  last 
reflexed.  The  sheaths  are  furrowed,  the  furrows  corresponding 
with  the  leaflets,  and  therefore  numerous,  but  no  specimen  has 
been  found  complete  enough  to  determine  the  exact  number.  This 
species  is  more  worthy  of  attention  as  it  closely  resembles  the 
Australian  plant.  The  second  Indian  one,  P.  rohusta  Feistm.,  is 
entirely  different,  with  short  spathulate  leaves  * 

All  the  Indian  and  Australian  species  of  Phyllotheca  and  some 
of  the  Siberian  ones  have  one  important  character  in  common,  and 
that  is  that  the  stems  are  ribbed,  and  the  ribs  and  furrows  are  not 
alternating  but  in  juxta-position.  In  this  they  differ  from 
Calamites. 

Three  species  of  Phyllotheca  have  been  described,  viz.  : — P. 
austrcdis,  Brongniart,  P.  ramosa,  M'Coy,  P.  hookeri,  M'Coy. 
All  these  apparently  are  reduced  to  one  by  Feistmantel,!  but  I 
shall  give  the  diagnosis  of  all. 

P.  australis,  Brongniart,  Prodr.  p.  152  and  175.  Stem  erect, 
simple  or  branched,  joints  somewhat  approximate,  leaflets  twice  as 
long  as  the  sheaths,  narrow,  erect,  or  reflected. 

See  M'Coy  loc.  cit.,  p.  156  ;  Morris  in  Strzelecki,  p.  250 ; 
Dana,  United  S,  Explor.  Exp.  GeoL,  p.  710. 

The  observations  of  Brongniart  on  this  plant,  refer  to  the  genus 
which  he  created  to  receive  it.  He  pointed  out  at  the  time,  the 
close  affinity  between  the  fossils  and  those  of  Fqitisetum,  from 
which  it  was  always  to  be  distinguished  by  the  foliaceous 
appendages  to  the  sheaths. 


*  See  Nagpur  Plants,  Quart.  Jour.  Geolog.  Soc,  London,  vol.  XVII 
(1862),  p.  355,  PI.  10  and  11.  Ramiganj  Plants,  Feistmantel,  Jour. 
Asiatic  Soc,  Bengal,  vol.  45,  p.  346-347.  Paleontologia  Indica,  fossil  flora 
of  the  Gondwana  Syst ,  vol.  3-  Flora  of  the  Damudaand  Panchet  divisions, 
pp.  65  to  69,  plate  12a. 

t  Notes  on  ths  Fossil  Flora  of  E.  Australia,  Proc.  Roy.  Soc.  N.  S.  Wales, 
1880.     Sydney,  Govt.  Printing  Office. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.   E.   TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  73 

P.  ramosa  M'Coy.  loc.  cit.  Stem  branclied  smooth  or  striated, 
sheaths  half  the  length  of  the  internodes,  leaves  thin  linear  flat, 
twice  to  three  times  the  length  of  the  sheath,  with  a  very  fine 
indistinct  midrib. 

The  specimens  figured  by  M'Coy  had  branches  arising  from 
nearly  every  joint.  He  states  that  the  stems  were  perfectly 
smooth,  being  striated  only  at  the  joints  with  a  delicate  striation 
in  some  species  down  the  internodes.  Subsequent  examination  of 
many  specimens  has  not  confirmed  this  distinction.  The  stems  are 
always  striated,  but  the  appearance  of  this  seems  to  depend  entirely 
on  the  state  of  preservation. 

P.  hookeri  M'Coy  loc.  cit.  PL  xi.  fig.  4,  5,  6,  7.  Stem  simple 
coarsely  sulcated  and  ridged  longitudinally  ;  sheaths  very  large, 
loose,  subinfundibuliform,  each  sheath  extending  from  one  articu- 
lation to  the  next,  so  as  to  conceal  the  stem,  leaves  about  twice 
the  length  of  the  sheaths,  thick,  narrow,  with  a  strong  prominent 
midrib. 

"  This  species,  says  the  author,  is  easily  known  from  the  two 
former  by  its  great  loose  sac-like  sheath,  completely  concealing  the 
stem,  its  long,  thick,  strongly  ribbed  leaves  and  by  its  stem  when 
stripped  of  its  sheath  being  coarsely  and  regularly  sulcated, 
precisely  as  in  Catamites  cistii.  Although  abundant,  I  have  never 
seen  the  trace  of  a  branch.  Some  of  the  flattened  stems  attain  a 
width  of  two  inches." 

A  large  collection  of  specimens  shows  such  gradations  of  one 
form  into  another  of  all  these  species  that  it  becomes  impossible  to 
separate  them.  P.  hookeri  is  no  more  than  a  luxuriant  growth  of 
P.  australis,  and  possesses  no  character  which  is  not  attributable  to 
mere  richness  of  growth. 

It  should  be  remarked  that  the  plant  has  been  quoted  from  a 
great  number  of  places  where  the  identification  has  been  made  from 
stems  alone.  This  is  very  misleading.  Dr.  O.  Feistmantel  has 
been  careful  to  point  out*  that  without  leaves  it  is  always 
unsafe  to  make  any  such  identification.     He  says — "  There  occur 

*  Paleon,  Indica.  Foss.  Fl.  vol  3.  Damuda  and  Panchet  Div.  p.  63* 


74      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

(Damuda  division)  with  the  leaved  stems  many  without  leaves  or 
partly  so.  Most  of  these  stems  were  generally  designated  as 
Phyllotheca.  My  opinion,  however,  is  that  they  mostly  belong  to 
Scfiizoneura,^^  When  we  have  leaved  specimens  closely  associated 
with  such  stems  their  similarity  quite  justifies  us  in  placing 
them  with  Phyllotheca.  But  when  the  stems  have  been 
found  in  widely  distant  localities  and  from  certainly  different 
horizons,  such  as  Mount  Victoria,  Dubbo,  Geelong,  Clarence 
River  and  Ipswich,  near  Brisbane,  I  think  that  without  the 
distinct  Phyllotheca  leaves  we  are  not  justified  in  saying  that  the 
stems  are  Equisetaceous.  For  my  own  part,  after  a  careful  search, 
I  have  never  found  any  true  and  characteristic  Phyllotheca  in  the 
Ipswich  coal  beds,  though  such  plants  are  always  stated  to  be 
there  ;  and  I  have  myself  taken  it  for  granted  that  the  stems  I 
found  belonged  to  that  genus.  In  the  Proceedings  of  the  Linnean 
Society,  N.S.W.,  vol.  vii.,  p.  95,  I  have  quoted  Phyllotheca 
(indica  ?)  as  from  the  Cooktown  and  Burrum  River  coal  beds,  and 
I  now  wish  to  state  that,  after  a  careful  examination,  there  is  no 
evidence  that  these  specimens  belong  exclusively  to  Phyllotheca. 

As  far  as  my  knowledge  goes,  perfectly  reliable  species  of 
Phyllotheca  are  rarely  found  except  in  Lower  Australian  or 
Paleozoic  coal  measures.  In  Queensland,  the  Ipswich  coals  are 
characterized  by  Equisetiom.  I  do  not  say  that  Phyllotheca  does 
not  occur  ainongst  the  strata  indicated  ;  but  except  in  the 
Hawkesbury  shales  no  leaved  specimens  have  been  found  to  place 
the  matter  beyond  a  doubt. 

P  indica  and  P.  hookeri  are  quoted  by  Mr.  Jack  as  occuring  in 
the  Bowen  River  (Q.L.)  coal  beds,  associated  with  Paleozoic  fossils.* 

P.  australis¥.  M'C  [sic)  is  quoted  by  Mr,  R.  Brough  Smyth, 
in  the  Progress  Report  of  the  Geology  of  Victoria,  f  as  from  the 
Bellerine  beds,  near  Geelong,  which,  according  to  Prof.  M'Coy,  are 
Upper  Mesozoic.  No  description  is  given,  nor  figures.  The 
specimens  seen  by  me  had  no  leaves  upon  them. 

*  Rep,   on  the  Bowen  River  Coal  Field.     Parliamentary  Paper,  Queens- 
land, 1879,  p.  33. 
t  Melbourne,  1874,  p.  35. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.   E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  75 

Phyllotheca  concinna,  n.s.,  plate  IX.,  fig.  2.  Stems  neatly 
striated  with  15  to  18  ribs  terminating  in  linear  leaves 
which,  though  slightly  curved,  do  not  spread,  but  lie  almost 
parallel  to  the  stem. 

Common  in  the  shales  of  the  Hawkesbury  sandstone  at  Sugar- 
loaf  Hill,  and  along  the  canals  and  tunnels  of  the  waterworks. 

I  distinguish  this  species  (1)  by  the  broad  stems,  (2)  the  close- 
ness and  neatness  of  the  ribs,  (3)  the  leaves  scarcely  spreading,  (4) 
leaves  not  half  the  length  of  Phyllotheca  Ausfralis. 

Fhyllotheca  carnosa,  7i.s.,  plate  9,  fig  2.  I  name  thus  a 
species  of  which  I  have  seen  only  one  faint  impression  from  the 
"Walloon  Mine.  It  is  imperfect,  but  shows  a  close  succession  of 
verticillate  leaves,  which  radiate  very  slightly  from  the  stem. 
They  are  close  obtuse,  about  half  a  millimetre  wide  and  5  long.  They 
form  5  cup-shaped  divisions  on  a  stem  35  mill,  long  and  10  wide. 
It  seems  allied  to  P.  rohusta  of  the  Indian  Lias  (See  Feist. 
Gond.  Syst.,  Yol.  III.,  p.  68,  pi.  xiv.  a,  bis,  fig.  1  and  2.)  This  is 
also  closely  allied  to  P.  schtschurowski,  of  the  Siberian  Jura.  The 
shale  specimen  from  which  the  figure  was  taken  has  fallen  to  pieces. 

Vertebraria. 

This  peculiar  plant  was  erected  into  a  genus  by  Prof.  Royle  in 
his  Botany  and  Nat.  Hist,  of  the  Himalaya  Mounts.''*'  It  was  for 
two  fossil  plants  from  Burdwan,  but  no  description  or  definition  is 
given.  Prof.  Morris  in  his  examination  of  the  Australian  coal 
plants,  in  Strzelecki's  work  already  referred  to,  mentions  (p.  253) 
the  occurrence  of  the  same  fossils  (Vertebraria  indica  and  V. 
radiata  among  the  Newcastle  coal  plants.  Prof.  M'Coy  was  the 
first  to  give  any  definition  of  the  genus.  Prof.  Dana  subsequently 
described  two  of  the  same  fossils  from  Australia  under  the  name 
of  Clasteria. 


*  Illustrations  of  the  Botany  and  other  branches  of  Nat.  Hist,  of  the 
Himalayan  Mountains  and  of  the  Flora  of  Cashmere.  By  Dr.  Royle, 
F.R.S.,  4to.  London,  1S33  to  1838.  Page  xxix,  PI.  H.  11,  figs.  1  to  7. 
See  also  Feistmantel's  Jour.  As.  Soc.,  vol.  45.  p.  347. 


76      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

The  plants  have  the  appearance  of  jointed  stems,  with  generally 
a  line  of  division  down  the  centre.  The  joints  on  each  side  of  the 
division  do  not  correspond  with  one  another,  and  they  are  very 
irregular  in  size  and  shape.  In  transverse  sections  these  stems 
are  cylindrical,  and  then  the  central  division  is  seen  to  be  one  of 
a  series  of  radiate  longitudinal  partitions  which  divide  the  stem 
into  eight  or  nine  cuneiform  portions.  •  Prof.  M'Coy  stated  that 
it  was  suggested  to  him  by  an  eminent  botanist  that  the  cylindrical 
fossil  might  be  considered  a  stem,  the  central  axis  being  the  pith, 
aud  the  radiating  divisional  lines  the  medullary  rays,  and  the 
intervening  cuneiform  masses  the  wedges  of  wood.  Prof.  M'Coy 
however  would  not  accept  this  view,  as  he  justly  says  from  the 
ease  with  which  the  fractures  took  place  along  these  lines  of 
division,  and  the  evenness  of  the  surfaces  produced.  He  noticed 
also  something  like  a  fine  neuration  in  the  transverse  wedge  shaped 
masses,  showing  clearly  dichotomous  veins.  From  these  circum- 
stances he  was  disposed  to  view  the  plant  as  closely  allied  to 
Sphenophyllum,  in  which  there  is  a  jointed  stem  surrounded  by 
vertical  whorls  of  six  to  eight  wedge  shaped  leaves  with  dichoto- 
mous veins.  He  thought  that  the  main  difierence  between 
Sphe7i02?hyllum  and  Vertebraria  consisted  in  the  greater  approxi 
mation  of  the  whorls  of  leaves  in  the  latter,  the  internodes  being 
so  very  short  that  the  whorls  of  leaves  are  brought  into  contact,  or 
nearly  so.  He  therefore  provisionally  defined  the  genus  thus  : — 
"  Stem  slender,  surrounded  by  densely  aggregated  whorls  of  ver- 
ticillate  cuneiform  leaves,  having  a  dichotomous  neuration."*  To 
the  above  he  continues  ''  we  might  add  that  the  number  of  leaves 
in  a  whorl  depends  on  the  species,  and  that  from  the  whorls  being 
so  close  as  nearly  to  touch  each  other,  the  fossils  have  the  appear- 
ance of  lengthened  cylinders,  breaking  readily  in  a  horizontal  and 
vertical  direction,  the  former  coinciding  with  the  surfaces  of  the 
leaves,  the  latter  coinciding  with  the  vertical  prolongations  of  the 
lines  separating  the  leaves  of  each  whorl,  the  former  producible  in 
indefinite  number,  at  distance  of  about  a  line  from   each   other  ; 

*  Loc.  cit.,  p.  146. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.  E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  77 

the  latter  having  only  a  small  definite  number,  depending  on  the 
number  of  leaves  in  a  whorl.  The  leaves  themselves  are  flat, 
rather  thick,  dilated  at  the  top  in  such  proportion  that  there  is  no 
space  left  between  the  edges  of  the  adjacent  leaves.  It  is  very- 
possible  that  together  with  Sphenophyllum  these  may  have  been 
freshwater  aquatic  plants  allied  to  the  recent  Marsilea,  in  which 
we  see  a  quaternary  arrangement  of  cuneiform  leaves,  with 
dichotomous  veins,  but  the  affinity  is  not  very  strong," 

Prof.  M'Coy  considered  that  the  Australian  specimens  were 
distinct  from  either  of  those  figured  by  Prof.  Royle,  and  he  named 
them  Vertebraria  australis,  giving  the  following  diagnosis : — 
"  Leaves  constantly  eight  in  each  whorl."  He  adds  that  the 
fragments  were  of  various  lengths,  with  a  pretty  uniform  diameter 
of  about  seven  lines.  The  radiating  dichotomous  veins  are  never 
strongly  marked,  apparently  from  the  original  softness  of  the 
texture  of  the  leaf.  In  many  cases  we  observe  between  them, 
an  obsolete  concentric  plication,  probably  from  the  same  cause,  and 
which  may  explain  the  nature  of  certain  vertical  striae,  visible  on 
the  perpendicular  fracture,  crossing  the  horizontal  lines  which 
mark  the  edges  of  the  leaves." 

This  ingenious  explanation  of  the  nature  of  Vertebraria,  did  not 
meet  with  general  acceptation.  Not  only  was  there  no  analogy 
for  anything  like  these  cylindrical  masses  of  leaves,  but  the 
divisions  themselves  did  not  resemble  any  known  leaf. 

Prof.  Dana  confessed  his  inability  to  suggest  any  explanation  of 
these  singular  forms.  He  says  :  ''we  do  not  pretend  to  understand 
their  nature,  or  explain  by  any  hypothesis,  their  structure.  They 
are  broad  linear,  three-eighths  to  seven-eighths  of  an  inch  wide,  with 
the  sides  parallel,  and  from  the  appearance  of  the  fossil,  it  is 
apparent  that  they  must  have  been  hollow,  as  remains  of  both  an 
upper  and  an  under  integument  can  be  distinguished.  They 
consist  of  two  unsymmetrical  longitudinal  halves.  In  one 
specimen,  each  half  has  a  transverse  elevation  at  distant  intervals, 
and  between  these  elevations,  a  transverse  depression.  The 
elevations  and  depressions  are  unlike  in  their  length  of  interval 
in  the  two  halves.     In  another  specimen  the  structure  is  difierent. 


78       ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

the  stem  appears  to  be  broken  across  either  one  or  both  halves,  at 
intervals  of  half  to  one  inch;  and  on  close  examination,  it  is  found 
that  a  carbonaceous  film  here  intersects  the  stem  (or  one-half  of 
it)  extending  into  the  clay  beneath,  and  causes  the  appearance  of 
fracture.  Besides  the  stem  is  angularly  depressed  at  intervals 
along  the  centre.  On  another  example  figured,  the  stem  looks  as 
if  crumpled  into  a  series  of  large  angular  depressions.  The  name 
Clasteria  (from  KXao-rus  broken)  alludes  to  this  broken  appearance. 
It  is  especially  remarkable  that  the  stem  which  has  the  form  first 
referred  to  at  one  extremity,  changes  to  the  second,  showing  that 
although  so  different,  all  these  forms  are  parts  of  one  and  the  same 
individual.  The  impressions  are  very  thin,  as  in  Phyllotlieca. 
The  idea  of  their  having  some  connexion  with  seed-bearing  vessels 
or  pods,  is  suggested  by  the  form,  but  no  analogy  can  be  appealed 
to  by  the  writer  to  sustain  it."* 

Sir  Charles  Bunbury  was  the  first  to  suggest  the  true  nature  of 
these  forms,  t  He  showed  how  one  of  these  fossils  must  be  the 
root  or  rhizome  of  some  plant.  Dr.  O.  FeistmantelJ  pointed  out 
another  important  fact  in  connection  with  Vertebraria,  that  it  was 
not  found  associated  with  any  other  plant.  He  pretty  clearly 
proved  that  all  Vertebraria  are  roots,  and  that  most  probably  they 
were  roots  of  an  Equisetaceous  nature.  He  adds  these  important 
remarks.  § 

"  Vertebraria  is  in  India  a  wide-spread  fossil,  both  as  regards 
vertical  and  horizontal  distribution.  I  think  there  is  only  one 
species  of  Vertebraria  in  India,  i.e.,  V.  indica,  Royle,  while  V. 
radiata  is  a  cross-section  of  V.  indica.  There  are  two  varieties  so 
to  speak.  One  which  appears  a  more  tender  plant  and  is  more 
branched,  and  another  variety,  which  represents  rather  the  stems. 
This  latter  is  more  generally  distributed,  while  the  former  appears 
to  be  more  common  in  the  Kamthi  representative  of  the  Kamiganj 
group,  although  the  other  form  also  is  not  absent.     The  Australian 

*  Append.  Geol.  U.S.  Exj)lor.  Exped.  p.  719. 
t  Quart  Jour.  Geol.  Soc.  loc.  cit. 
X  Jour.  Asiatic  Society  of  Bengal.,  loc.  cit. 
§  Pal.  Indica,  loc   cit.,  vol,  3.,  part  2.  p.  71. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.   E.  TENISON- WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  79 

form  shows  the  closest  analogy  to  our  Indian  Vertehraria.  About 
the  identity  of  the  genera  there  is  no  doubt;  the  species  are 
perhaps  diflerent.  Dana's  Clasteria  is  nothing  else  but  Vertehraria. 
It  represents  the  longitudinal  section  of  the  same  plant  of  which 
V.  atistralis  as  figured  by  M'Coy,  formed  the  transverse  section, 
an  analogous  case  to  that  of  India  where  V.  indica  was  the  longi- 
tudinal section  and  V.  radiata  the  transverse  section  of  the 
same  plant,  In  Australia  it  is  described  from  the  upper  coal 
measures  only.  Unger  placed  both  the  Indian  and  Australian 
Vertehraria  with  Sphenophyllum.  This  is  an  eri'or  which  everybody 
will  perceive  from  the  figures.  Quite  lately  Vertehraria  (?) 
petschorensis  was  described  by  Schmalhausen  (loc.  cit.  p.  53,  tab. 
VII.,  figs.  14  and  18)  from  Jurassic  beds  of  the  Petschora  country 
(Oranetz,  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Petschora  river),  but  so  far  as 
I  can  judge  from  the  drawings,  his  specimens  do  not  show  much 
relation  with  the  Indian  or  Australian   Vertehraria." 

Dr.  Feistmantel  goes  on  to  say  that  the  one  Indian  species  of 
Vertehraria  is  known  from  all  divisions  of  the  Lower  Gondwana 
beds,  and  from  almost  all  horizons,  which  would  according  to  the 
same  author  make  them  the  equivalents  of  our  Hawkesbury  rocks 
and  shales. 

If  we  take  it  as  established  that  Vertehraria  is  an  Equise- 
taceous  root,  I  think  the  fossils  might  be  expected  to  have  as  wide 
a  range  as  the  Equisetin£e.  Such  is  the  case  in  Australia.  They 
have  been  hitherto  regarded  as  restricted  to  the  Newcastle  beds, 
where  they  are  generally  underneath  strata  contsiining  Phyllotheca. 
These  Vertehraria,  I  think,  can  be  distinguished  from  those  asso- 
ciated with  Equisetum.  I  have  found  Vertehraria  in  all  the 
lower  shales  of  the  Ipswich  coal  measure,  which  I  shall  refer  to 
presently.  First,  however,  let  me  mention  what  is  known  of  the 
rhizome  of  a  true  Equisetum. 

Taking  the  figures  as  given  by  Schimper  from  Bischofi*  (D. 
Krypt.  Gewachse,  tab.  III.),  we  find  that  in  the  living  Equisetum 
arvense  Linn,  there  is  a  long  creeping  root  with  distant 
parallel  grooves,  diaphragmata,  and  sheaths,  all  on  a  larger  and 
coarser  scale    than  on  the  living  stem.      At  intervals  there  are 


80       ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

bulbs  or  tubers  in  chains  of  one,  two,  and  three.  But  though 
there  is  a  general  resemblance  in  the  structure  to  the  Vertehraria, 
there  is  an  almost  identity  of  character  between  the  same  fossils 
and  ascertained  roots  of  fossil  Equisetacem.  Thus  in  E.  hraunii, 
as  figured  by  Schimper,  we  find  a  series  of  short  articulations  with 
parallel  grooving  very  similar  to  some  forms  of   Vertehraria. 

Regarding,  therefore,  these  fossils  as  roots,  it  seems  almost 
useless  to  distinguish  them  with  generic  and  specific  names.  Such 
organs  must  resemble  each  other  closely  even  where  the  species 
are  difierent.  We  have  no  evidence  that  Vertehraria  indica  and 
Vertehraria  australis,  though  so  much  alike,  belonged  even  to  the 
same  genus  of  plants.  Nay  it  is  extremely  probable  that  they 
did  not,  for  among  the  common  Equisetaceous  plants  in  Indian 
strata  Schizoneura  is  associated  with  Vertehraria  indica,  while 
Shizoneura  is  unknown  in  the  Newcastle  beds,  and  Vertehraria 
australis  is  associated  with  PhyllotJieca  australis. 

I  shall  distinguish  the  Vertehraria  common  in  the  blue  clay  at 
the  Walloon  Mines  as  V.  equiseti,  premising,  of  course,  that  I 
believe  it  to  be  the  rhizome  of  Equisetum  rotiferum,  nobis. 

Vertehraria  equiseti.  Plate,  1  ;  fig,  3.  Roots  found  in  broad 
finely  striated  masses,  three  or  four  inches  long,  with  occasional 
transverse  divisions  half  an  inch  or  so  across.  These  root  masses 
have  little  or  no  carbonaceous  matter  amongst  them.  They  seem 
to  be  impressions  of  a  mass  of  roots  flattened  out  into  the  clay. 
Three  diiferent  kinds  of  roots  can  be  distinguished — one  is  a 
broad  striated  stem  half  an  inch  in  diameter  with  transverse 
divisions  at  irregular  intervals.  2.  A  narrow  cylindrical  stem 
with  parallel  striations  and  no  diaphragmata.  3.  Stems  with  a 
central  longitudinal  division  and  irregular  transverse  dia- 
phragmata, which  occasionally  correspond  at  each  side  of  the 
longitudinal  line  and  occasionally  do  not.  In  the  upper  portions 
of  these   roots  there  are  very  distinct   impressions  of  sheathing 


Occasionally  oblong  tubers  such  as  those  represented  in  E. 
parlatorii,  linger  (see  Schimp  Pal.  Veg.  Atlas,  plate  8,  fig  14) 
may  be  met  with,  but  they  are  always  detached  from  the  roots,  and 


BY    THE    REV.  J.  E.   TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,   F.L.S.  81 

lying  alongside  them  looking  very  much  like  "  knots"  in  the  stems. 
There  is  one  structure  very  apparent  in  all  the  stems,  and  that 
is  the  transverse  striae.  These  are  close  and  minute  so  that  it 
requires  a  hand  lens  to  observe  them.  Sometimes  they  have  the 
appearance  of  overlapping  scales. 

Found  in  grey  clay  belosv  the  coal  in  the  Tivoli  mine,  amidst  a 
number  of  carbonaceous  fibres  and  rootlets,  which  go  by  the  name 
Filicites. 

Vetebraria  toivarrensis.  Plate  1,  figs.  1,  2,  4,  n.  s.  I  designate 
by  this  name  certain  plant  impressions  of  roots  which  are  very 
common  in  a  formation  full  of  vegetable  remains  at  Rosewood 
about  24  miles  west  from  Rockhampton,  Queensland.  The  beds 
are  in  sight  of  the  Towarra  ranges  and  form  part  of  the  country  of 
the  Towarra  tribe,  and  hence  the  name.  They  are  broad  stems 
with  deep  or  regular  longitudinal  grooves,  but  with  slight  trans- 
verse divisions  which  are  irregular,  at  long  distances  apart,  or 
absent.  The  fine  transverse  stride  are  not  seen  as  on  the  other 
species.  In  some  of  the  specimens  the  parallel  lines  are  regular, 
in  others  they  curve,  twist  and  fold  over  one  another.  The 
impressions  are  broad  like  those  of  Tivoli,  evidently  derived  from 
a  mass  of  roots.  The  transverse  divisions  are  no  more  than  like 
cracks  on  the  roots,  and  they  are  also  thick  and  well-defined. 

These  remains  unlike  the  Indian  Vertebraria  are  intimately 
associated  with  numerous  impressions  of  Ptilophyllum  oligoiieurum 
nobis,  and  various  other  plants  to  be  hereafter  described.  There 
are  several  other  fossil  roots. 

There  are  many  other  places  in  Queensland  where  I  have  noticed 
root  impressions  but  have  not  been  able  to  submit  them  to  detailed 
examination.  These  localities  are  : — Burrum  River,  Upper 
Burnett  River,  coal  beds  beyond  Blackwater,  128  miles  west  of 
Rockampton,  coal  beds  west  of  Cooktown.  I  do  not  suggest  any 
name  for  such  impressions,  but  I  suppose  the  term  Vertebraria 
should  be  restricted  to  those  forms  in  which  the  transverse 
divisions  give  rise  to  a  series  of  joints  such  as  to  suggest  the  idea 
of  a  vertebral  column. 

F 


82       ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLOEA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

Order  II.  Calamite^.     Broiigniart. 

This  order  is  distinguished  from  the  Equisetacece  by  the  verti- 
cillate  leaves  entirely  free  or  confluent  at  their  base,  and  by  the 
sporangiferous  spikes  being  axillary  like  those  of  Lycopods.  Some 
of  the  genera  of  this  order  have  been  named  and  classified  in  the 
early  history  of  paleontology  from  fragmentary  fossils,  but  as 
investigation  has  gone  on,  better  and  more  numerous  specimens 
were  discovered,  and  just  as  in  the  case  of  the  different  portions  of 
the  Lejndodendron  genus,  they  have  proved  to  be  different  portions 
of  the  same  plants.  Thus  Ettingshausen  has  proved  that  Astero- 
2)hyllites  are  the  branches  and  branchlets  of  Calamites,  and  the 
spikes  known  under  the  name  of  Volhnannia  are  the  fruit  bearing 
portions  of  the  «ame  genus.  It  is  to  Mr.  Binney,  of  Manchester^ 
that  we  owe  the  knowledge  that  the  capsules  enclosed  in  the  spikes 
are  not  anthers,  but   sporangia. 

Calamites. — Suckow  (including  Calamites,  Equisetites  (in  part), 
Astero2yhyllites,  Volhnannia,  Bechera,  Bruchnannia,  Bornia,  of 
Sternberg  and  Goeppert,  and  the  Calamites,  Equisetites,  (part), 
C alamo dendr on.  Aster ophyllites,  of  Brongniart,  Bunbury,  Binney, 
Dawson,  and  others. 

Tree-like  plants,  rising  from  a  subterranean  rhizome,  stem  simple, 
somewhat  conical,  jointed  and  gradually  narrowed,  branches  in 
whorls,  with  forked  branchlets.  Bark  smooth,  or  more  or  less 
distinctly  sulcate,  interned es  of  varying  length,  but  generally 
shorter  as  they  descend.  Inner  lining  always  sulcate  and  con- 
stricted at  the  joints.  Internal  structure  similar  to  Equisetum. 
Cauline  leaves  extremely  fugacious,  wholly  unknown  but  usually 
represented  by  minute,  convex,  ovate  scars  on  the  inner 
wood.  Branch  leaves  longer  and  more  numerous  than  the 
cauline,  of  equal  length,  free  or  confluent  at  the  base,  linear  or 
narrowed  or  slightly  dilated  above,  acuminate,  ribbed,  entire, 
sub-erect,  or  reflexed.  Sporangiferous  spikes,  verticillate  from  the 
axils  of  the  leaves,  disposed  in  corymbs  along  the  branches  or  at 
their  extremities,  oblong  or  elongately  cylindrical,  small  for  the 
size  of  the  plant.  Bracts,  alternating  with  the  sporangia,  ver- 
ticillate, lanceolate,     erect    above,     below    uniting    into    a  disk. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.   E.   TENISON- WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  83 

Sporangia-bearing  stalks,  peltate,  and  arranged  in  whorls  of  six ; 
sporangia,  four  to  each  stalk,  borne  on  the  under  side  of  the  peltate 
leaves  ;  spore  cases,  with  cellular  walls ;  spores  spherical,  with 
thread-like  elaters. 

The  fruit-spike  or  cone  bears  a  very  strong  resemblance  to 
JEquiseLum,  but  in  the  latter  all  the  leaves  of  the  cone  are  fruit- 
bearing,  while  in  Calamites  some  are  fruitful,  and  others  are  like 
the  ordinary  leaves  of  the  plant. 

Calamites  abound  in  the  Carboniferous  rocks,  and  no  doubt  the 
great  mass  of  the  coal  was  formed  by  them.  They  may  be  said  to 
have  died  out  at  the  close  of  the  paleeozoic  period,  though  some  are 
still  found  amongst  the  lower  members  of  the  mesozoic  strata. 
We  have  only  two  quoted  from  Australia,  and  those  are  from 
the  lowest  group  of  our  coal  strata,  Smith's  Creek,  near  Stroud. 

Calamites  (Bornia)  radiatus.^ — Brongniart,  Hist,  of  Veget. 
Foss.,  1,  p.  122  (quoted  by  Schimper  as  Borvia,  vol  1,  p.  335). 
This  species  belongs  to  the  subdivision  Bornia,  distinguished 
amongst  Calamites  by  its  interrupted,  non-alternating  ribs,  its  free 
leaves,  which  on  the  branches  are  once  or  twice-forked,  divided 
above,  ovoid  elliptic  spikes,  scutellpe  with  a  scar  on  the  centre  of 
the  external  face.  It  is  thus  characterised  : — Leaves  of  branches 
very  long,  linear,  free,  often  forked.      Cauline  leaves  shorter. 

The  fossil  is  very  wide-spread,  being  found  in  the  lower  coal  and 
Devonian  rocks  of  Europe  and  those  of  America,  (See  Dawson's 
Devonian  Plants,  Quart,  Jour.  Geol.  Soc,  vol  xviii.,  p.  309  ;  also, 
Schimper,  atlas,  pi.,  xxiv.,  where  many  figures  are  given  of  stem, 
leaves  and  fruit.) 

In  Dr.  Feistmantel's  work  already  quoted,!  there  are  three 
figures  given  of  this  fossil,  representing  some  leaves  and  cer- 
tain portions  of  the  stem.     It  should  be  mentioned  that,  except 

*  See  Proc.  Roy.  Soc.  N.S.W.  1883,  pi.  12,  pp.  7,  8. 

t  Nachtrag  zur  Fossilien  Flora  Australiens,  Paleontographia  pars.  pi.  vi , 
vii ,  xxiv  ,  xxi.  It  is  to  be  borne  in  mind  that  this  work  is  published  in 
parts  and  the  numerals  refers  to  the  number  of  plates  in  the  part.  Dr. 
Feistmantel  inserted  a  second  enumeration  having  reference  to  the  essay  on 
the  Australian  Fossil  Flora  as  a  whole.  To  this  second  enumeration  I  have 
already  referred. 


8-4       ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

to  an  experienced  eye,  or  without  some  fruit  spikes,  these  fossils 
might    be    mistaken    for    Phyllotheca    australis.       They    belong, 
however,    to    a    much    lower    horizon,    and    the    leaves    will    be 
found  to  be  dichotomous,  which  is  never  the   case  in  Phyllotheca. 
Calamites  variansis  quoted  by  Feistmantel  (loc.  cit..  p.  145)  on  the 
authority  of  De  Koninck.    The  passage  referred  is  as  follows  :—  * 
"  Before  commencing  the  study  of  the   numerous  animal  forms 
belonging  to  the  Carboniferous  period,  I  will  glance  at  some  con- 
temporary plant  remains  received  at  the  same  time  and  also  often  in 
the  same  rocks  from  the  Rev.  W.  B.  Clarke.  I  should  state,  previously, 
that  the  specimens  sent  to  me,  not  above  twenty  in  number,  were 
in   such  a   bad  state   of   preservation   that,   notsvithstanding  the 
immense    experience    of   M.    Grepin,   who  was    kind    enough   to 
examine  them,  or  the  abundant  materials  for  comparison  which  he 
had   at  his  disposal   in   the  Brussels  Museum,  he  was  unable  to 
determine  any  species  with  certainty.      According  to  him,  never- 
theless, some  specimens  came  very  near  to  Lepidode^idron  veltheimi- 
anum,  Sternberg,  others  to  Bornia  radiata,  A.  Brong.  and  others,  to 
Calamites  varians,  Germar  :  these  constitute  the  dominant  forms. 
All  these   plants  are   contained   either  in  a  hard    and   compact 
greyish   yellow  or  greenish  limestone,  or   else  in   friable,    easily 
powdered  grey  or  brownish  sandstone.     Many  are  associated  with 
marine  animal  remains,  such  as  the  stems  of  Grinoids,  Productus, 
Conularia,   &c.     By  their    characteristics  they  cannot  be  said  to 
belong  to  the  Carboniferous  formation  properly  speaking,  but  to  the 
period  which  preceded  it,  being  preserved  in  the  rocks  on  which 
the  Carboniferous  strata  rest.     The  principal  localities  in  which 
these  different  fragments    have  been    collected  are  the    Murree 
quarries  (Loders'  Creek),    Bussell's   Shaft,    Glen   William,   and 
Burragood." 

Calamites  varians  Germar  (G .  apiwoximatus,  Schlott,  of  Schim- 
per).  This  species  is  distinguished  by  the  very  short  intervals  in 
the  basal  part  of  the  trunk  becoming  suddenly  elongated  in  the 
upper  part.     The  shoots  of  the  basilar  portion  were  rather  stout, 

*  Recherches  sur  les  Foss.  Paleoz.  N.  Galles  d.  Sud,  Australie,  3  part, 
p.  142. 


BY    THE    REY.  J.   E.  TENISON- WOODS,   F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  85 

and  disposed  quiQCuncially.  The  scars  are  large  and  round,  and 
the  ribs  near  conYerge  towards  them  with  their  upper  and 
lower  extremities.  The  same  thing  is  seen  in  the  leaf  scars,  but 
then  the  converging  ribs  are  less  numerous,  and  there  are  noYer 
more  than  three.  From  the  Draramond  Range  I  have  a  very  fine 
series  of  these  plants,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  accompanying 
specimens  and  figures,  which  place  the  nature  of  the  fossils  beyond 
any  doubt.  The  occurrence  of  this  species  has  been  known  for 
some  time,'  through  the  labours  of  Dr.  Feistmantel,  but  the 
discovery  of  the  roots  and  stems  was  first  recorded  in  a  paper  by 
the  author, '^'  who  received  many  specimens  from  Mr.  Phillips,  at 
Bobuntungen.  These  roots  and  stems  seem  to  abound  in  the 
strata,  and  there  are  some  portions  of  the  stone  which  is  made  up 
entirely  from  the  stems.  Nevertheless,  leaves  are  rarely  found 
associated  with  them  ;  in  fact  none  of  the  more  tender  plants — 
such  as  Ferns,  or  organs  of  plants — are  found  in  these  strata  where 
Lepidodendron  occur.s.  In  the  neighbourJiood  of  the[  shales,  leaf 
impressions  and  those  of  Ferns  may  be  found  ;  but  these  I  have 
not  as  yet  been  able  to  examine. 

The  strata  I  regard  as  lower  Carboniferous,  and  they  are  very 
extensively  developed  in  this  locality,  where  the  whole  eastern 
face  of  the  range  is  composed  of  beds  dipping  by  a  regular  and 
slight  inclination  to  the  westward. 

Annularia  (Brongniart). 

Herbaceous  plants.  Stem  articulate,  subulate,  divided  by  a 
solid  diaphragm  at  the  joints  ;  branches  pinnate  and  bi-pinnate  ; 
leaves,  many  in  oval  whorls,  lingulately,  elongately,  and  spathu- 
lately  lanceolate,  somewhat  thick,  with  a  central  nerve,  horizontal 
or  recurved  ;  spikes  distichous  or  verticillate,  cylindrically  elongate, 
rachis  thick,  with  short  sulcate  internodes  ;  bracts  numerous,  rising 
erect,  fiat  below,  then  erect  and  lanceolate.  Sporangia  axillary, 
globose,  or  lenticular. 

These  were  probably  herbaceous  aquatic  plants,  whose  leafy 
branches  floated.     The  internodes  were  hollow  and  separated  by 

*  Roy.  Soc.  N.S.  Wales,  1882.  Read  ~at  the  meeting,  Dec.  6.  In  this 
paper  are  the  figures  here  referred  to. 


86       ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

solid  diaphragmata  with  a  thick  margin  which  often  leave  impres- 
sions in  the  form  of  a  ring,  and  hence  the  name.  The  leaves 
never  form  a  sheath  as  in  Equisetuni,  but  unite  at  their  base  with 
the  ring.  Only  one  species  of  this  genus,  which  is  a  characteristic 
coal  fossil,  has  been  described  from  Australia. 

Annularia  australis  (Feistmantel). — (Loc.  cit.  p.  154.  Tab.  VII. 
— XXV. — Stem  slender,  articulate  ;  leaves  verticillate  up  to  ten 
in  number,  spreading,  incurved,  membranaceous,  lanceolately 
spathulate,  with  a  persistent  median  nerve,  18  millim.  long. 

This  fossil,  which  is  unique,  was  found  at  Greta  (30  miles  west 
of  Newcastle),  in  beds  below  the  lower  marine  paleozoic  beds. 
The  si^ecimen  was  found  on  a  slab  with  a  leaf  of  Glosso2)teris 
hrowniana,  which  shows  the  actual  contemporaneity  of  that  fossil 
with  such  a  truly  paleozoic  form  as  Annularia.  Tlie  present 
species  somewhat  resembles  A.  longi folia.  Brongt.,  but  the  leaves 
are  not  so  long  or  stiff,  have  a  thinner  cuticle,  farther  apart  from 
one  another,  and  are  blunt  at  the  end. 

Sphenophyllum,  Brongniart. 

This  genus  is  distinguished  by  its  wedge-shaped,  often  divided 
leaves,  less  numerous  than  Annularia  and  furnished  with  fine 
forked  veins  ;  grooves  on  the  stem  not  alternating,  and  the  articu- 
lations fortn  an  acute  ridge  which  is  so  constant  that  they  can 
be  identified  even  without  leaves.  Spikes  narrow,  long,  and 
cylindrical.  Bracts  numerous,  curving  dov/n  at  first  from  the 
rachis  and  then  suddenly  bent  upwards  at  an  acute  angle  in  which 
a  single  spore  case  is  fixed.  Thus  while  the  general  structure 
is  that  of  Equisetuni  the  fructification  closely  approaches  the  Lyco- 
pods.     Fossils  characteristic  of  the  coal  period. 

A  remnant  of  what  appears  to  be  a  species  of  Sphenophyllum  is 
figured  by  Dr.  Feistmantel,  in  the  part  of  his  work  referred  to. 
PL  ii,  fig  1  (p.  73).  There  is  but  one  whorl  of  five,  broadly 
cuneiform,  finely  nerved,  split  leaves,  with  a  narrow  stem,  not 
showing  any  very  distinct  sulcations.  The  ridges  of  the  articula- 
tions are  not  very  marked.  Altogether  the  specimen  was  so 
insignificant  that  Dr.  Feistmantel  did  not  consider  it  sufficient  to 
name  it.     From  Port  Stephens  (Stroud  %) 


by  the  rev.  j.  e.  tenison-woods,  f.g.s.,  f.l.s.  87 

Doubtful  Species. 

Before  leaving  the  Equisetaceoe,  I  note  the  occurrence  in  the 
Rosewood  (Rockhampton)  beds  of  certain  fragmentary  impres- 
sions, which  I  regard  as  belonging  to  the  stems  of  Equisetum  or 
Calamites.  They  are  finely  ribbed  stems  with  transverse  partitions, 
often  three  inches  in  width.  The  only  form  to  which  I  can 
com.iyd(XQ  them,  i^  Equisetum  mougeotti,  Brong.  (See  Schimp.  vol.  L, 
p.  278,  and  Atlas  pi.  12,  figs  1,  2,  3  and  4)  which  is  a  Trias 
fossil,  from  the  Vosges  (Gres  bigarree).  The  ribs  of  our  fossil  are 
close,  fine,  about  20  to  an  inch.  I  have  seen  no  specimens  perfect 
enough  to  shov,^  a  good  series  of  the  partitions,  so  cannot  say 
whether  they  were  close  or  distant,  neither  are  there  any  buds 
visible.     To  distinguish  it  I  name  it  as  follows  : 

Equisetum?  latum,  pi.  2,  fig  1.  Broad  stems  two  to  three 
inches  wide  with  numeruus  small  close  ribs.  Common  on  sandstone 
or  fine  conglomerate,  Rosewood  (Rockhampton). 

Filices  or  Ferns. 

Ferns  are  herbaceous  plants  with  a  creeping,  climbing,  or  erect 
stem,  consistingof  a  subterranean  rhizome,stem,  and  leafy  expansions 
curled  upon  themselves.  Fructification  on  the  under  surface  or 
margin  of  the  frond,  minuce,  densely  clustered  in  spore  cases 
(sporanges)  full  of  microscopic  doubly  coated  spores,  destitute  of 
an  embryo,  but  capable  of  developing  a  small  leafy  expansion. 
Prothallus  bearing  the  essential  organs  of  reproduction. 

I  shall  pass  over  other  details  for  which  any  ordinary  botanical 
handbook  may  be  consulted,  to  come  at  once  to  the  subdivisions 
which  are  adopted  for  the  fossil  species.  I  will  merely  observe 
now  that  as  the  fructification  is  rarely  preserved,  and  generally 
only  leaves  and  portions  of  leaves,  two  characters  become  most 
important.  One  is  the  form  of  the  nerves  or  venation  of  the 
leaves  ;  the  other  is  its  mode  of  attachment  to  the  rachis.  The 
following  general  classification  of  Ettingshausen  is  the  one  followed 
here,  as  it  is  adopted  by  Schimper  who  points  out  that  it  is 
merely   a   development   of  that  proposed  by   Ad.  Brongniart  in 


88       ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

1828."^  According  to  this  system  (Ettirigshausen's)'f',  there  are 
five  orders  of  extinct  ferns  namely: — 1.  Sphexopteride^  ;  2. 
Neuropteride.e  ;  3.  Pecopteride.e  ;  4.  T^niopteride.e  ;  5. 
Dictyopteridea\ 

Sphenopteride^e. 

Including  Syihenopteris  Rymenophyllum^  Eremopteris,  Coniop- 
teris,  Steffensia. 

Fronds  petiolate,  simj^le  or  divided,  pinnate,  bi-tri-pinnatifid, 
Pinnules  connate  or  lobate.  Lobes  dentate  or  subdivided.  Costa 
fine  and  delicate,  often  bifid  or  free  at  the  top,  veins  diverging 
above,  or  produced  to  the  sinus  of  the  lobes  or  teeth.  Venules 
either  indistinct  or  only  proceeding  from  the  lower  part  of  the 
secondary  nerves. 

Sphenopteris,  Brongniart. 

As  the  species  of  this  genus  are  over  a  hundred  it  has  been  found 
convenient  to  divide  them  into  families  according  as  they  approach 
to  such  living  forms  as  Cheilanthes,  Davallia,  Dichsonia,  djc.  The 
most  of  the  Australian  specimens  belong  to  the  family  Sphenohy- 
nienophyXlece  or  SphenojJteris,  approximating  to  the  living 
Ilynienophyllum  which  is  thus  described.  Rachis  winged  ;  leaves 
finely  membranaceous,  veins  pinnate,  single  in  each  segment, 
branches  dichotomous.     Sori  indusiate  at  the  apex  of  the  lobes. 

Sphenoj^teris  lohifolia.  Morris  in  Strzel.  p.  246,  pi.  7,  fig  3 
and  3a.  Frond  bi-pinnate,  pinnae  somewhat  linear,  elongate,  alter- 
nate. Pinnules  membranaceous,  those  of  the  lower  pinnae  equal, 
ovate,  oblong,  contracted  at  the  base,  approximate,  with  three 
nearly  equal  rounded  lobes  on  each  side,  and  a  terminal  obtuse 
one.  Veins  proceeding  into  each  to  be  divided  near  the  midrib, 
upper  one  furcate.  The  pinnules  towards  the  apex  of  the  frond 
are  rather  sharply  three-lobed  and  decurrent,  the  veins  becoming 
forked  in  each  lobe. 

*  Histoire  des  vegetaux  fossiles,  vol.  I  ,  p.  148  :  Also  Tableaux  des 
gen.  de  vegetaux  fossiles,  1849. 

t  Die  Farnkrauter  der  felzwelt  zur  Untersuchung  und  Bestimmung  der 
in  der  Formation  du  Erdrinde  eingeschlosseneu  Ueberreste  von  vorwelt- 
lichen  Arten  dieser  Ordnung.  Wien,  1865.  By  M.  Const.  d'Ettingshausen. 
With  180  beautifully  executed  plates,  giving  the  neuration  of  many 
hundred  species. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.   E.  TENISON-WOODS,   F.G.S.,   F.L.S.  89 

Obs. — This  appears  to  have  been  a  very  delicate  fern  :  the 
pinnules  are  very  slender,  or  membranaceous,  and  variable  in  shape 
according  to  their  position  on  the  frond.  Locality  :  Newcastle 
quoted  also  from  Mulubimba.  I  have  found  it  on  the  Dawson 
River  Q.  L.  (near  Cracow  Creek),  and  I  think  I  recognised  it  from 
the  Bowen  River  coal  fields  (Q.  L.)  among  some  specimens  from 
Rosella,  two  miles  above  Havilah  crossing  ''  A  marine  bed  con- 
taining Goniatites  ivoodsii,  De  Konn.,  Productus  cora,  D'Orb., 
StreptorhyneJms  crenistria,  Phillips,  intercalated  with  the  fresh- 
water series.  "* 

Sphenopteris  alata,  Brong.,  Hist.  veg.  foss.,  p.  361,  pi.  127. 
Frond  tripinnate,  rachis  winged,  pinnae  pinnate,  above  pinnatitid 
with  decurrent  sessile  pinnules,  lower  pinnatifid,  with  three  to  six 
bluntly  toothed  segments,  upper  ones  inciso-dentate,  veins  either 
simple  or  forked,  diverging  slightly  into  each  lobe  from  the  costa 
at  an  acute  angle.  Hawkesbury  River,  Brongniart,  Mulubimba. 
M'Coy. 

This  species  was  referred  to  Hymenopliyllites  grandini,  Gopp 
by  Goppert,  which  belongs  to  the  old  Carboniferous  of  Germany. 
Prof.  M'Coy,  however,  denies  that  either  the  one  or  the  other 
which  follows  are  identical  with  that  form. 

With  reference  to  this  species  Dr.  Feistmantel  makes  the 
following  remarks  in  his  Fossil  Flora  of  the  Gondwana  system,  f 
"  I  have  to  point  out  some  confusion  which  arose  about  this 
species.  In  his  paper  on  "Sedimentary  Formations  in  JSTew 
South  Wales,  published  in  Mines  and  Mineral  Statistics,  1874, 
page  186,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Clarke  correlated  this  ,S);Aenop^ms  alata 
with  the  Carboniferous  form  known  at  first  by  the  same  name;  and 
later  as  Sphenopteris  {Hymenopliyllites  grandini).  The  matter  stands 
however,  as  follows  : — The    Australian    species   was    at    first  dis- 


*  Report  on  Bowen  River  coal  mine  by  R.  L.  Jack,  F.G.S.,  Parhamentary 
Paper,  Brisbane,  1879,  p.  34. 

+  Vol.  III. ,  part  II.  Flora  of  the  Damuda  and  Panchet  Divisions, 
Page  77. 

:|:  The  same  mistake  is  made  in  the  last  edition  of  Sedimentary  Forma- 
tions (1878)     See  p.  74,  and  Appendix  IX,  p.  22. 


90      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

cribed  as  Pecopteris  alata,  Broiigt.,  and  was  subsequently  placed 
with  Sphenopteris  (alata)  by  Sternberg,  and  is  at  present  quoted  as 
sucli.  The  European  Carboniferous  form  to  which  Mr.  Clarke 
referred  was  at  first  described  as  Sph.  alata,  Brgt.,  and  was  later 
quoted  by  Gcippert  as  HymenopJiyllites  grandini,  and  now  by 
Schimper  as  Sphenopteris  grandini,  Goep.  Now  both  Morris  and 
M'Coy  who  mention  Sphenopteris  alata  mention  it  in  Brongniart's 
sense  of  Pecopteris  alata,  the  Australian  form,  and  not  in  the  sense 
of  the  original  Sph.  alata  or  the  present  S.  grandini  of  the  Carbon- 
iferous. The  latter  (Biongniart,  Hist.  Veg.  Foss.  pi.  48,  fig.  4)  is 
totally  different  from  the  Australian  S.  alata,  Brongt.  sp.  (op.  cit. 
p.  127,  p.  361),  and  it  w^as  with  the  latter  I  have  compared  the 
vipper  portion  of  one  Indian  Sphenopteris  poli/morpha.'^ 

Sphenopteris  alata,  var.  exilis,  Morris  (loc.  cit.  p.  246.)  Frond 
somewhat  triangular  with  a  tri-pinnatifid  base,  margin  of  the 
rachis  alate,  pinnules  either  contracted  at  the  base  or  confluent, 
decurrent,  irregularly  lobed,  lobes  entire  or  dentate,  veins  slender, 
pinnate.  Ohs. — This  interesting  species  appears  more  nearly 
allied  to  Sphenopteris  than  Pecopteris,  and  is  easily  distinguished 
by  the  slender  and  decurrent  pinnules,  the  membranaceous  or 
alate  membrane  of  the  principal  rachis,  as  observed  in  recent 
species  of  Hi/menophyllum.  Associated  with  the  last  species  and 
Glossopteris  hrowniana  in  a  light-coloured  shale  from  the  Hawkes- 
bury  River.  The  museum  of  the  Geological  Society,  London) 
contains  specimens  of  the  two  above  species. 

Sphenopteris  hastata,  M'Coy,  Ann.  Nat.  Hist.  1.  cit.  p.  149.  Bi- 
pinnate,  pinnae  long,  acutely  lanceolate  with  a  broad  alate 
margin,  pinnules  elliptical,  obscurely  undulate,  dentate,  having 
three  obsolete  lobes  on  each  side,  veins  bi-pinnate,  two  branches 
reaching  each  lobe  of  the  margin.  Ohs. — The  lengthened  oval 
form,  slightly  indented  margin,  and  simple  neuration  of  the 
pinnules,  fully  distinguish  this  from  any  published  species  of  the 
genus.  The  average  length  of  the  pinnse  is  about  \\  inch,  width 
4  lines,  average  length  of  the  pinnules  3  lines.  Not  uncommon 
in  the  shale  of  Mulubimba,  M'Coy, 


BY    THE    REV.  J.   E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  91 

Sphenopteris  germana,  M'Coy,  loc.  cit.  p.  150,  Bi-pinnate, 
pinnae  oblique,  alternate,  elongate,  ovate,  with  a  narrow  membran- 
aceous margin,  pinnules  oval,  deeply  pinnatifid,  lobes  very  oblique, 
elliptical,  generally  three  on  each  side,  and  the  apex  of  the 
pinnules  3-lobed,  veins  bi-pinnate,  three  branches  reaching  the 
margin  of  each  lobe.  Ohs. — It  is  extremely  difficult  (says  Prof. 
31'Coy)  to  distinguish  this  species  from  the  Pecojyteris  inurrayana 
of  the  Yorkshire  Oolitic  coalfields,  with  which  it  is  nearly  identical 
in  form  and  neuration.  The  oval  outline  of  the  pinnules  is  the 
most  obvious  character,  contrastins;  with  the  trigonal  wide-based 
leaflets  of  the  English  plant.  This,  together  with  their  more 
oblique  setting  on  the  rachis,  more  oblique,  narrow,  and  deeply- 
cleft  lobes,  and  the  decurrent,  narrow,  alate  margin  to  the  straight 
rachis,  will,  I  think,  be  sufficient  to  distinguish  the  species  in  the 
shale  of  Mulubimba. 

Sphenopteris  i^himosa,  M'Coy,  loc.  cit.  Bi-pinnate,  pinnae  curved, 
elongate,  narrow,  plumose,  margin  slightly  alate  to  the 
rachis,  pinnules  close,  oblique,  ovate  pointed,  deeply  cleft  into 
about  four  oblique  mucronate  lobes  on  each  side,  exclusive  of  the 
largely  trilobed  apex,  veins  strong,  much  branched,  so  that  about 
six  branches  reach  the  margin  of  each  of  the  lobes  of  the  lower 
side,  and  seven  to  each  of  those  of  the  upper  margin.  Obs.  The 
number  of  the  lobes  of  the  pinnules  and  complexity  of  the  neura- 
tion will  readily  distinguish  this  species.  The  average  length  of 
the  leaflets,  five  lines.     Rare  in  the  shale  of  Mulubimba. 

Sphenopteris  jiexuosa^  M'Coy,  loc.  cit.  Bi-pinnate,  pinnae  long, 
with  a  strong  flexuous  naked  rachis.  Pinnules  large,  moderately 
oblique,  unequal,  ovate,  sides  cut  into  two  very  large  unequal 
rounded  lobes  on  each  side.  Apex  tri-lobed.  Veins  strong,  much 
branched,  seven  branches  reaching  the  margin  of  each  lobe,  and 
three  going  into  each  of  the  three  lobes  of  the  apex.  Obs.  This 
strongly-marked  species  is  not  sufficiently  allied  to  any  known  form 
to  render  a  comparison  necessary.  The  average  length  of  the 
pinnules  is  about  eight  lines,  width  four  lines.  In  a  bed  of  brown 
clay,  Mulubimba. 


92       ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

S.  iguanensis,  M'Coy,  Decades  Paleont.  Victoria.  Dec.  lY, 
p.  22.  PL  XXXVI,  fig.  35.— This  species  belongs  to  the  sub- 
genus Eremopteris,  of  Schimper,  for  such  species  of  Sphenopteris  as 
have  the  frond  dichotomously  pinnate,  pinnae  irregularly  pinnati- 
fid,  laciniate  lobes  elongate,  obovate  or  sub-cuneate,  veins  dicho- 
tomously  radiating  from  the  base.  S.  iguanensis.  Dichotomously 
bi-pinnatifid,  segments  of  usually  five  to  seven  lobes,  oblique, 
elongate,  cuneate,  confluent  at  base,  apices  crenulo-lobate  by  small 
acutely  angular  indentations.  Veins  slender,  numerous,  forked, 
diverging  from  the  base  usually  about  three  to  each  lobe,  a  few 
towards  the  middle  stronger  than  the  rest,  but  no  distinct  midrib. 
Rachis  rather  thick.  Length  of  pinnules,  one  to  two  inches, 
greatest  width  usually  about  4  lines.  Obs.  The  pinnules  or  lobes  are 
smaller,  narrower,  diverge  at  more  acute  angles,  and  are  much  less 
deeply  divided  than  in  the  Sp.  artemesifolia,  Brongt.,  of  the  lower 
Carboniferous  rocks  of  Northumberland,  to  which  it  is  most  nearly 
allied,  and  which  is  the  type  of  Schimper's  exclusively  paleozoic 
Eremopteris.  Common  in  hard  olive  upper  Devonian  flags  of 
Iguana  Creek,  Victoria. 

S.  elongata,  Carruthers,  Proceed.  Geol.  Soc.  Lond,  1872,  p.  355, 
pi.  XXVII,  tig.  1  (Append.  II  to  Daintree's  paper  on  the  Geology 
of  Queensland.)  Frond  dichotomously  divided,  each  division 
irregularly  pinnate,  pinnae  simple,  bi-furcate  or  irregularly  pinnate, 
segments  narrow,  linear,  slightly  tapering  upwards  to  the  some- 
what blunt  apex,  the  costa  sending  out  simple  veins  which  run 
along  the  middle  of  each  segment.  Obs.  With  Pecopteris 
[Thinnjeldid)  odontopteroiaes  this  is  one  of  the  most  abundant  forms. 
Some  specimens  have  small  oval  markings  scattered  irregularly  on 
either  side  of  the  midrib.  These  probably  indicate  the  form  and 
position  of  the  sori,  which  are  the  same  as  in  some  of  the  simple 
linear  species  of  Polypodium.  Tivoli  coal  mine."^'"  I  find  the  same 
oval  markings  on  many  different  Ferns,  and  am  inclined  to  refer 
them  to  other  causes.  My  own  inclination  is  to  j^lace  the  fossil 
with  Trichomanides. 

*  I  can  hardly  confirm  this  about  the  fossil  being  common  ;  in  fact  I 
should  say  that  it  is  rather  uncommon,  and  confined  to  certain  horizons. 
It  is  met  witli  at  Thomas's  Aberdare  mine  as  well. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.   E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  93 

SpTienopteris  crehra,  n.s.,  plate  3,  fig.  4. — Frond  evidently  tender 
and  membranaceous,  bi-pinnate,  pinn?e  wide,  alternate,  slightly 
oblique,  oblong  quadrate,  pinnules  so  close  together  as  not  to  be 
easily  distinguished,  faintly  pinnatifid,  lobes  a  little  more  oblique 
than  the  pinnae,  oblong  ovate,  with  a  slightly  undulating  margin  ; 
costa  sending  off  veins  which  fork  once,  and  the  venules  reachinf^ 
the  margin, 

Ballinore  Coalfield,  Talbragar  River,  N.S.  W. 
The  spreading  contiguous  pinnae,  and  the  very  faint   lobes,  will 
easily  distinguish   this   species  from  the   preceding,   or  from  any 
found  in  the  Newcastle  or  Ipswich  beds, 

Sphenopteris  {hymen.)  bailey  ana,  pi,  4,  fig,  2,  n.s. — Frond  bi- 
pinnatifid,  membranaceous,  rachis  winged,  pinnules  alternate, 
almost  simple,  broad  at  the  base,  becoming  regularly  narrower  at 
each  lobe,  so  as  to  form  an  almost  conical  leaflet,  emerging  at  an 
open  angle,  and  curving  upwards,  the  lower  shorter,  the  upper 
longer  and  spreading  ;  lobes  linear,  narrow,  rounded,  very  slightly 
segmented,  much  longer  in  the  upper  pinnules,  the  terminal  lobe 
produced ;  costa  conspicuous,  reaching  the  apex  ;  veins  very  fine, 
emerging  at  an  acute  angle,  bi-furcating  immediately,  sending  a 
venule  to  the  end  of  each  lobe.  Rosewood,  Ipswich,  one  specimen. 
This  fossil  might  be  compared  with  some  living  species  of 
Hymenoj^hyllum,  but  the  peculiar  stout,  slightly  lobed  [unnae  give 
it  a  character  not  easily  referable  to  any  recent  or  fossil  form. 

Splienopteris — Aneimioides. — This  subdivision  of  the  genus 
Sphenopteris  is  founded  on  the  general  resemblance  to  Aneimia^ 
a  well-marked  genus  almost  confined  to  America,  with  fertile 
and  barren  fronds,  the  fertile  being  a  copiously  branched  panicle, 
and  the  barren  having  numerous  radiating  free  forked  viens.  The 
definition  of  Schimper  for  this  subdivision  of  the  Sphenopterideoi 
is  as  follows  : — 

Pinnules  somewhat  broad,  narrowed  below,  ovately  lobed,  lower 
lobes  3  to  4  in  number,  superior  entire,  coarsely  toothed  or  sinuate, 
all  roundly  obtuse  or  sub-acuminate  ;  costa  of  the  pinnules  well 
marked,  evanescent,  veins  and  venules  numerous,  diverging  in  a 
somewhat  arcuate  manner  from  a  sub-erect  base.     Dichotomous. 


94       ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLOEA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

In  one  respect  the  fossil  now  to  be  described  does  not  correspond, 
and  that  is  that  the  median  nerve  is  scarcely  to  be  distinguished 
from  the  others. 

^inlienoi^teris  {Aneimioides)  fiahelUfolia  n.s..  Frond  delicate, 
small,  bi-pinnate,  rachis  terete,  somewhat  thick,  pinnas,  oblong 
ciineate,  contracted  at  the  base  to  a  delicate  petiole,  lower 
edge  '  entire,  upper  divided  into  linear  cuneate  lobes  of  varying 
width,  the  edges  straight  or  rounded,  some  of  the  pinnte  much 
elongated ;  costa  inconspicuous ;  veins  fine,  close,  numerous, 
straight,  radiating. 

This  remarkable  fossil,  which  has  strong  resemblance  to  Archce- 
02oteris  occurs  abundantly  in  a  blue  shale  on  the  Burnett  River, 
Queensland,  about  half-way  between  Bundaberg  and  five  coal 
seams  which  abut  on  the  river.  It  probably  belongs  to  the  same 
coal  formation,  but  whether  the  shale  is  an  upper  or  lower  meuiber 
of  it  I  am  unable  to  say. 

Sijhenopteris  (pi.  2.  fig.  2)  {Aneimioides)  Jlabellifolia,  var. 
erecta. — On  the  same  stone  as  the  foregoing,  Ferns  are  found  of 
smaller  size  and  regularly  pinnate,  the  pinnae  lobed  or  segmented 
symmetrically  at  both  sides.  It  seems  a  very  difierent  form,  but 
on  looking  closely  the  venation  and  general  shape  of  the  lobes  is 
seen  to  be  the  same. 

Sphenopteri?^  (?)  glossop)hylla,  n.s.,  pi.  4,  fig.  4.  Frond  very 
small,  with  a  somewhat  thick  rachis,  repeatedly  forking  and  bearing 
small,  entire,  alternate  ovate  leaves  on  which  the  venation  cannot 
be  seen.  One  specimen  at  the  Talbragar  mines,  near  Dubbo, 
N.S.W.,  where  it  is  associated  with  Triassic  (?)  conifers. 

I  know  of  nothing  either  living  or  fossil  to  which  this  singular 
little  fern  (?)  can  be  compared.  I  have  given  it  a  name  for  the 
convenience  of  reference. 

SuB-GENUS    TrICHOMANIDES. 

Frond  simple  or  divided,  bi  or  tri-j^innate,  primary  rachis  narrow, 
or  terete.  Pinnules  very  delicate,  dichotomously  divided,  lobes 
narrowly  linear  or  filiform,  simple  or  forked.  Sori  unknown,  but 
doubtless  as  in  all  the  Trichomanidece  {Hymenophyllum,  Triclw- 
manes,  d'c.)  indusiate  at  the  extremity  of  the  elongated  lobes. 


BY    THE    REA^  J.   E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  95 


&> 


Trichomanides  laxum,  ii.s.,pl.  10,  fig.  2.  Rhizome  creeping,  Ion 
slender,  sending  up  at  distinct  irregular  intervals  delicate  mem- 
branaceous, pinnate  fronds.  Pinn?e  emerging  at  an  acute  angle, 
linear  or  cuneate,  bi-furcating  with  one  simple  free  vein  to  each 
lobe.     E/Osewood  scrub,  Ipswich,  not  common. 

This  fossil  cannot  be  distinguished  from  Trichomanes  ;  one  in- 
dusium  and  receptacle  at  the  end  of  a  lobe  showing  the  simple  cup 
of  that  genus.  There  is  some  resemblance  in  the  form  to  the  preced- 
ing species  of  Carruthers,  but  this  species  is  much  smaller  and 
evidently  consisted  of  short  pinnate  fronds  proceeding  at  irregular 
intervals  from  the  slender  creeping  rhizome.  This  fossil  has 
intimate  relations  with  our  existing  flora. 

Trichomanides  sinnifolium,  n.s.,  pi.  3,  fig  1 ,  evidently  some- 
what stiff,  spreading,  dichotomously  dividing,  bi-pinnate,  pinnae 
opposite  or  nearly  so,  long,  linear  and  together  with  the  rachis 
membranaceously  winged,  pinnules  nearly  opposite  or  alternate,  very 
short  and  quite  acute,  the  apical  one  long,  and  linear,  veins  thick, 
simple  free.     No  sori  or  indusium  visible. 

This  beautiful  species  is  distinguished  by  the  rigid  aspect,  the 
close  numerous  pinnae,  the  shortness  and  acuteness  of  all  pinnules, 
except  the  terminal  one  which  is  disproportionately  long  and 
linear.     Rosewood,  near  Ipswich. 

Anetmites.     Dawson.* 

Frond  many  times  dichotomously  divided  with  squarrose  divis- 
ions and  squarrosely  pinnate.  Pinnae  angularly  flexuous.  Pinnules 
somewhat  remote,  broadly  spathulate,  petiolate,  trilobed  or  remain- 
ing nearly  entire,  veins  dichotomous.  Fertile  pinnae  and  pinnules 
subcircinately  recurved,  short  and  with  a  leafy  expansion. 

Aneimites  iguanensis,  M'Coy.  Report  of  Progress  of  Geol.  Survey 
of  Victoria,  No.  2,  Melbourne  1875,  p.  73.  The  only  record  of 
this  species  Avhich  I  can  find  is  in  a  letter  from  Prof.  M'Coy  to 
Mr.  Brough  Smyth,  published  in  the  above  report.  He  states 
that  having  examined  the  fossils  from  Iguana  Creek,  which  had 

*  Quart.  Jour.  Geol.  Soc.  Lond.  vol.  xvii.,  p.  5. 


96       ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

been  submitted  to  him,  he  recommended  that  the  beds  in  which 
thej  occur  should  be  colored  as  Upper  Devonian.  He  said  further 
that  amongst  the  fossils  there  was  a  new  species  of  Archceopteris 
which  he  named  A.  howitti,  a  new  species  of  Aneimites  named 
A.  iguanensis  and  a  species  of  Cordaites  named  G.  austroMs.  There 
was  no  description  given,  but  subsequently  in  the  fourth  decade  of 
the  Paleontology  of  Victoria,  plate  36,  and  p.  21  to  23,  descrip- 
tions were  given  of  Archceojyteris  hoLvitti,  and  Cordaites  australis, 
to,o'ether  with  the  Spheno2?teri8  iguanensis  edre-ddj  descvibed,  but  no 
further  mention  of  the  Aneimites. 

Family  JSTeuropteride^. 
Fronds  simple,  once  or  more  pinnate.  Pinnaa  and  pinnules 
foliaceous  and  generally  rather  large,  entire,  veins  numerous  with 
many  forks  diverging  arcuately  and  reaching  the  margin  either 
directly  from  the  rachis  or  from  the  costa.  Only  a  very  few 
specimens  are  known  with  organs  of  fructification. 

Archceopteris.  Dawson,  loc.  cit.^' 
Bi-pinnate,  pinnae  alternate,  pinnules  obliquely  obovate,  im- 
bricate, opposite,  with  narrow  decurrent  base,  a  pinnule  often  on 
the  rachis  between  bases  of  pinnae;  veins  fine,  divaricating, 
dichotomous.  Fertile  pinnules  in  the  midst  of  the  infertile  ones  ; 
sori  ovate,  in  bunches  at  ends  of  much  divided  veins.  Common  in 
Upper  Devonian  beds  of  Europe.  N.  America,  and  rare  in  the 
lower  Carboniferous. 

A.  howitti,  M'Coy,  Pal.  Yict.  loc.  cit.  Pinnse  upwards  of  four 
inches  long,  and  about  one  and  a-half  inches  wide.  Pinnules 
subopposite,  imbricate,  obliquely  ovato-rhomboidal,  narrowed  to 
the  base  which  articulates  to  the  petiole  so  as  to  appear  slightly 
decurrent  on  one  face,  and  obliquely  inserted  on  the  other. 
Terminal  pinnules  nearly  the  size  and  shape  of  the  latei-al  ones, 
but  equilateral.     Average  length  of  each  pinnule,  1  inch,  1  line ; 


*  The  genus  was  erected  by  Schimper  (see  Pal.  Veg.  vol,  1,  p.  475),  who 
named  it  Pala''02:)teris.  This  was  a  name  already  used  by  Geinitz,  and  the 
above  as  a  substitute  was  suggested  by  Dr.  Dawson. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.   E.   TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  97 

width,  6  lines.  Veins  slightly  radiating,  slender  (about  14  in. 
3  lines  across  the  middle),  with  two  or  three  dichotomous  branches 
from  base  to  upper  margin,  edges  only  slightly  lacerated. 

Ohs. — This  species  is  most  allied  to  the  Canadian  A.  jacksoni, 
from  the  upper  Devonian  beds  of  Gaspe,  from  which  it  differs  in 
its  larger  and  broader  pinnules,  and  to  the  A.  hibernica,  from  the 
upper  Devonian  of  Kilkenny  and  Berwickshire,  from  which  its 
shorter,  broader  and  more  closely  set  imbricated  pinnules  and 
smaller  pinnae  distinguish  it.  The  fertile  pinnules  have  not  been 
found  as  yet.  Abundant  in  the  upper  Devonian  olive  flags  of 
Iguana  Creek. 

A.  wilkinsoni,  Feist.  Paleoz.  u.  Mes.  Flora  d.  Ost.  Australiens, 
p.  148.  Pinnate,  rachis  narrow,  somewhat  striate,  sometimes 
forked  ;  segments  of  the  pinnules  sub-alternate,  oblong  ovate, 
pinnatifid  segments  or  slits  sub  alternate,  cuneifoim,  narrowed  at 
the  base,  decurrent,  incised,  lobes  denticulate,  the  terminal  ones 
bi-tri-lobed  with  incised  dentations.  Veins  very  close  flabellately 
dichotomous. 

Obs. — This  form  approaches  nearest  to  A.  lyra,  Stur.  and  A. 
dissecta,  Goep.,  but  in  the  latter  the  pinnae  are  longer,  the  segments 
or  slits  are  wider  apart,  are  longer  and  more  slender.  Locality, 
Smith's  Creek,  near  Stroud,  horizon  probably  lower  Carboniferous. 

Another  species  of  Archceoj^teris  is  spoken  of  by  Feistmantel 
(loc.  cit.  p.  148)  and  figured  (Tab.  IV,  XXII,  fig  4),  but  the 
specimen  is  too  imperfect  to  be  determined.  From  the  same 
locality. 

Rhacopteris,  Schimper. 

Frond  pinnate,  rachis  rigid,  grooved  in  the  middle.  Pinnae 
elongate  broadly  linear.  Pinnules  sub-horizontal,  somewhat  remote, 
contiguous  or  sub-imbricate,  spreading,  oblong  rhomboidal,  more 
or  less  deeply  incised  and  flabellate,  lobes  narrow,  straight,  or 
slightly  removed.  Obs. — The  incisions  are  in  the  direction  of  the 
veins,  and  each  ligule  comprises  one  or  two  branches.  The  naL  a 
refers  to  the  incision  of  the  pinnules.  The  genus  is  confined  to 
the  Devonian  or  Lower  Carboniferous. 

G 


98       ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

R.  incequilatera,  Goeppert  (as  Cyclopteris  Flora  d.  Silur-Devon. 
unci  unt.  Steinkohlform),  p.  72,  tab.  XXXYII,  pp.  6,  7,  and  8. 
Schimper  (^as  Palc^opteris).  Paleon.  veg.  vol.  3,  p.  485.  Frond 
pinnate,  pinnae  siibimbricate,  spreading  very  much,  inequilateral, 
upper  side  broadly  rounded,  truncate  at  the  base  at  a  right  angle. 
Petiole  short,  straight,  decurrent.  Veins  united  at  the  base, 
spreading  widely  and  dichotomously  divided. 

Qls. — This  species  is  identical  with  one  found  in  Europe  in  the 
Lower  coal  measures  (Silesia),  where,  however,  it  is  rare.  It  is 
somewhat  common  in  the  beds  at  Smith's  Creek  and  at  Arowa. 
Dr.  Feistmantel  gives  many  figures,  and  states  that  he  believes 
that  Prof.  M 'Coy's  Otopteris  ovata  (Ann.  Nat,  His.  loc.  cit.)  is 
this  species.  From  the  figures  one  would  say  that  they  were 
identical.  Prof.  M'Coy  points  out  in  his  description  that  the 
genus  was  the  same  as  Goeppert' s  Adiantites^  and  Unger's 
Cycloi^teris,  but  he  referred  it  to  Otoi^teris,  because  of  its  pinnate 
leaves.  The  species  is  also  considered  by  Feistmantel  to  be  the 
same  as  one  not  determined  by  Stur.^ 

R.  intermedia,  Feistmantel  (loc.  cit.  p.  75,  Tab.  11.)  Kachis 
thick  with  a  prominent  mesial  angle,  pinnules  alternate,  pedun- 
culate, oblong,  rhomboid,  incised  into  cuneate  segments,  the  centre 
longest,  incisions  scarcely  marked  above.  Margins  of  the  segments 
denticulate,  veins  numerous,  forking,  radiating  in  the  segments. 
Port  Stephens  (Stroud)  ?  In  the  form  of  the  rachis  this  resembles 
very  much  R.  transitionis  and  R.  machanecki,  Stur. 

R,  sei^tentrionalis,  Feistmantel,  loc  cit.  p.  147.  Tab,  iv  (xxii) 
fig.  5.  Pachis  as  in  the  last  species,  pinnulse  subaltern^te,  with 
short  petioles,  suberect,  oblong  near  the  rachis  deeply  lobed 
and  thence  sub-flabelliform,  lobes  subrhomboid,  deeply  incised, 
segments  rounded  above.     Veins  indistinct. 

Ohs. — This  form  is  also  somewhat  like  transitionis,  Str  ,  but  it  is 

in  every  respect  thinner  and  more  slender.     Smith's  Creek,  Stroud. 

R.  romeri,  Feist,  loc.  cit,,  p.  147.       At  plate   11  (xx),  fig.  2  and 

2a.,  Dr.  Feistmantel  gives  the  outline  of  a  plant  from  the  same 

*  Culmflora  d.  Mahr,  Schles,  Dachschiefers,  p.  75. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.  E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  99 

locality,  which  he  formerly  described  as  a  Sphenopferis,  and  which 
he  now  somewhat  doubtfully  refers  to  Mhacopteris.  The  species  is 
identical  with  one  from  the  coal  measures  of  Silesia  by  its  sub- 
quadrate,  deeply  lobed  pinn?e  and  dichotomous  veins.  The  rachis 
is  also  cjrooved. 


&" 


Neuropteris,  Brongniart. 

Fronds  pinnate  or  bi-tri-pinnate  generally  twice  or  thrice 
divided.  Pinnules  entire,  constricted  at  the  base  and  not 
uncommonly  cordate  with  a  short  pedicel,  rarel}^  inserted  by  the 
whole  width  of  the  base,  costa  more  or  less  distinct,  only  occasionally 
continuous  beyond  the  middle  of  the  pinnule,  thence  dividing  into 
veins  which  emerge  at  a  very  acute  angle,  curved,  diverging, 
numerous,  slender,  dichotomous,  produced  to  the  margin  in 
parallel  venules,  and  never  anastomosing. 

This  is  a  large  and  natural  genus,  and  is  said  to  be  peculiar  to 
the  true  Carboniferous  epoch.  When  the  costa  entirely  disappears 
it  may  be  confounded  with  Odontopteris,  and  when  the  same  nerve 
is  continuous  to  the  apex  of  the  pinnules  it  is  equally  difficult  to 
separate  it  from  Pecopteris,  especially  as  this  genus  has  the  veins 
very  numerous  and  emerging  at  an  acute  angle.  Then  recourse 
must  be  had,  says  Brongniart,  to  the  shape  of  the  pinnule,  which  in 
the  greater  number  of  species  of  Neuropteris  is  contracted  and 
rounded  at  the  base  and  never  decurrent  or  confluent. "^ 

Amongst  existing  forms  the  resemblances  are  to  Fteris,  Blechnum, 
Lomaria,  &c.  Only  once  has  the  fructification  of  Neuropteris  been 
observed,  and  that  shows  no  analogy  with  any  living  JFern. 

Neuropteris  sp. — Fragments  of  a  fern  somewhat  resembling 
iV^.  gigantea  Sternb,  were  found  by  me  at  Bobuntungen  in  Queens- 
land. I  have  not  the  specimens  now  to  refer  to,  and  therefore 
cannot  give  more  details.  Doubtless,  more  will  be  found.  A 
figure  of  the  species  named  will  be  seen  in  Lindley  and  Hutton 

*  "  The  median  pinnules  must  be  here  understood.  The  basal  and 
terminal  ones  are  often  so  much  modified  as  to  lose  their  normal  form." 
Schimper,  Note,  vol.  1.  p.  431. 


100     ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

Fossil  Flora,  plate  52.  Sternberg  Flor.  cl.  Vorw.  4,  p.  16,  5,  p. 
72  ;  Brongniart  Prod.  p.  54,  and  Hist.  d.  Veg.  Foss.  1,  p.  240, 
plate  69. 

The  Rev.  W.  B.  Clarke  mentions  Neuropteris  as  occurring  at 
Newcastle,  but  no  such  fossil  was  found  in  his  collections  or 
amongst  those  sent  to  Europe.  It  was  probably  a  mistaken 
identification. 

Neuropteris  australis,  n  s.,  plate  8,  fig.  4,  5.  Frond  pinnate 
with  a  thick,  broad,  conspicuously  grooved  rachis.  Pinnae  ovate 
and  Ungulate,  the  lower  ones,  moderately  and  irregularly  lobed 
and  obtuse,  unsymmetrical,  the  upper  ones,  ovate,  acuminate  with 
an  acute  apex,  the  apical  pinnules,  trifoliate,  with  lobes  broadly 
rounded,  all  affixed  to  the  rachis  by  a  somewhat  broad  petiole. 
Veins  rather  thick  and  prominent,  radiating  from  the  base,  the 
venules  running  almost  parallel  in  a  curve  to  the  margin.  Length 
of  lower  pinnules,  15  to  20  millim. ;  breadth,  8  to  10  millim. 
Upper  ones  gradually  diminishing  in  length  and  breadth  to  the 
summit  of  the  frond. 

This  species  of  Fern  differs  from  Thinnjeldia  in  the  shape  and 
arrangement  of  the  pinnae,  which  are  not  decurrent,  and  diminish 
in  size  towards  the  apex,  where  they  become  ovate-lanceolate  and 
finally  trifoliate,  in  a  way  that  is  never  seen  in  any  of  the  other 
fossils  we  have  in  Australia.  There  does  not  seem  to  be  any 
signs  of  the  bifurcation  of  the  frond. 

The  first  specimen  I  received  of  this  interesting  fossil  was 
obtained  by  the  Rev.  J.  Milne-Curran,  from  the  gravel  of  the  Bell 
River,  near  Wellington,  N.S.W.  The  fossil  was  in  ironstone, 
and  evidently  derived  from  some  of  the  limonite  nodules  such  as 
are  obtained  from  the  Hawkesbury  rocks.  There  is  only  one  living 
form  to  which  it  could  be  referred,  namely,  Aneimia  (Swartz). 
This  genus  is  distinguished  by  forked  radiating  free  venules,  with- 
out a  median  vein,  which  make  it  stand  alone  amongst  living 
forms.  It  is  not  represented  in  Australia,  but  is  in  Africa,  and 
almost  confined  to  the  tropics. 

I  venture  to  suggest  that  the  connection  between  these  forms 
may  be  worth  attention.     There  is  a  fossil  genus  connected  with 


BY    THE  REV.  J.   E.  TENISON-WOODS,   F.G.S.,  P.L.S.  101 

tliem  wliicli  has  been  Darned  Aneimidium,  by  Schimper,  and  which 
can  scarcely  be  separated  from  living  forms,  except  in  this,  that 
the  veins  are  closer  and  more  numeroas.  There  are  two  species 
known  from  the  Wealden  of  North  Germany.  The  diagnosis  of 
the  genus  is  thus  given  : — Fronds  pinnate,  pinnae  coriaceous, 
simple,  oblong,  ligulate,  symmetrically,  and  unsymmetrically 
obovate,  base  inserted,  gradually  narrowed.  Neuration  distinct, 
thickened  towards  the  base,  often  forking,  and  all  the  venules  free 
and  reaching  the  margin. 

"  The  great  resemblance  which  these  species  manifest  to  several 
species  of  Anehnia,^'  and  the  almost  complete  correspondence  of 
the  venation  has  induced  me  to  give  to  these  plant  remains  of  the 
Cretaceous  period  the  name  of  Aneimidiicm." — Schimper,  Pal. 
Veg.,  vol.  1,  p.  485. 

If  we  were  sure  of  the  horizon  to  which  this  species  of  Neurop- 
teris  belongs,  its  presence  might  cause  interesting  speculation.  It 
has  been  found  simply  in  a  waterworn  stone  in  the  river  bed. 
There  are  no  known  paleozoic  plant  beds  near,  and  its  aspect  is 
certainly  not  that  of  a  paleozoic  fossil.  The  formation  on  which  it 
rested  was  a  marine  Devonian  limestone,  with  corals. 

Thixnfeldia.  — Ettingshausen.  f 

Fronds  pinnate,  segments  or  pinnae  oblong,  ovate  lanceolate, 
decurrent,  and  confluent  at  the  base,  coriaceous,  costa  divided  into 
many  veins,  venules  and  veinlets,  before  reaching  the  apex  ;  veins 
emerging  at  a  slight  angle,  diverging  in  ascending,  and  often 
forking,  venules  or  veinlets  reaching  the  margin  Stomata  in  both 
sides  of  the  lobes.  Obs. — The  frond  is  generally  dichotomous, 
and  is  with  the  leaves  of  a  thick  and  fleshy  habit.  It  belongs  in 
Europe  to  the  lower  Lias  and  Hhaetic  formations. 

*  From  dveificov,  without  clothing  (a  priv.  icfxa,  vesture),  in  allusion  to 
the  naked  inlioresence.  Many  writers  on  Ferns,  such  as  Smith,  jNIoore, 
Hooker,  write  Anemia,  which  is  the  orthography  of  Swartz,  the  founder  of 
the  genus. 

t  Begrundung  einiger  neuen  nicht  genau  gekannten  Arten  der  Lias  u.  d. 
Oolith  flora.     (Abhand.  d.  k.  k.  geoL  Reichsanst,  I.  3,  No.  3,  p.  I.) 


102      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

According  to  Dr.  Feistmantel  there  has  been  much  doubt  about 
the  position  of  these  plants.*  It  is  not  a  common  genus,  though 
with  us  the  specimens  are  so  numerous.  By  Braunf  it  was  placed 
amongst  ferns,  but  in  the  family  Pachypterid^.  By  Ettings- 
hausen  it  was  regarded  as  a  conifer  near  Phyllocladus.  Andrse 
also  placed  it  amongst  conifers,  but  with  Taxineos  with  Pachyp- 
teris-X  Schenk  classed  it  with  CycadopteridcE.  In  the  work  of 
Schimper  referred  to  (vol.  I.,  p.  494)  the  author  takes  Cycadop- 
teris,  Pachyp>teris,  and  Thinnfeldia,  and  places  them  all  amongst 
Neuropteridece,  in  which  Dr.  Feistmantel  says  he  is  probably  right 
adding  "  We  have  another  systematic  position  of  this  genus  by 
M.  Saporta  ;  in  his  Jurassic  plants  of  France  (Paleont.  Francaise, 
N.  8,  p.  340,  ff.)  he  placed  Thinnfeldia  amongst  the  Odontopter- 
ideoe  ;  but  I  believe  this  is  not  quite  right,  unless  the  diagnosis  of 
Odontopteris  (Brongniart)  be  altered,  for  we  have  in  all  known 
species  of  Thinnfeldia,  Ettingsh.,  a  distinct  costa  merging  in  venules 
on  the  apex,  which  does  not  occur  in  Odontop)teris.  There  are 
seven  species  described  from  Europe,  viz  : — T.  decurrens,  Schenk, 
s2:>eciosa,  Ett,  ohtiisa,  Schenk  ;  rhomhoidalis,  Ett.,  saligna,  Schenk, 
laciniata,  Schenk,  and  incisa,  Saporta,  all  from  Rhastic  or  Lias. 
There  are  two  described  from  India,  viz.  : — T.  indica,  Feistm.,  and 
our  common  T.  odontopteroides,  Morr. 

?  Thinnfeldia  media,  n.  s.  {an  var.  indica?  F.  loc.  cit,, 
p.  87.  PI.  xxxix,  fig.  1,  la  ;  xlvi.,  fig.  1,  2,  2a  ;  also  Records 
Geol.  Surv.  Ind.,  ix.,  2,  p.  35,  1876  ',  Pecopteris  salicifolia.  Old. 
and  Morr.  Rajmahal  Flora  PI.  xxvii.,  fig.  2).  Frond  pinnatifid 
or  bi-pinnate  (?),  pinnae  nearly  opposite  lanceolate,  acuminate,  on 
the  margin  sinuate,  the  lower  ones  shorter,  the  upper  more  or  less 
nearly  auricled,  the  lower  ones  more  or  less  decurrent,  the  costa 
dividing  into  many  veins ;  these  veins  are  forked.  Stalk  thick 
striated.     This  is  the  diagnosis  of  T.  indica. 


*  See  vol.  1,  Foss.  Flora,  Gond.  Syst.  Part  2,  Jiirasic  (Liassic)  Flora  of 
Rajmahal  Group,  p,  85  and  33,  of  the  work,  34  of  the  part. 

t  Braun  verz.  d.  Petref.  m.  d.  Kreiss  z.  B.  1840.  k.  k.  Geol.  Reichsanst. 
Abh.  II.  1855,  p.  43. 

X  Fl.  d.  Grensch,  1867,  p.  105. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.  E.   TENISON-WOODS,   F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  103 

Dr.  Feistmantel  remarks  that  the  form  of  the  j)inn£e,  the  vena- 
tion, and  the  thickness  of  the  rachis  all  agree  with  Thinnfeldia. 
He  says  that  it  might  almost  be  identical  with  T.  decurrens,  Schenk, 
a  Rha^tic  and  Liassic  plant,  differing  only  in  these  points  : — 1.  The 
rachis  is  thicker ;  2.  The  lower  part  of  the  base  of  pinnae  not  so 
distinctly  decurrent ;  3.  The  pinnae  are  thinner.  He  unites  this 
species  with  Pecopteris  salicifolia,  Morr. 

Found  in  the  sandstones  at  Dubbo,  where  it  is  associated  with 
Thinnfeldia  odontopteroides.  The  sandstones  are  without  doubt 
the  same  as  the  Hawkesbury  sandstone,  which  I  regard  as  an 
aerial  deposit.  I  have  also  recognized  occasional  fragments  of  this 
Fern  in  ironstone.  The  differences  in  this  species  will  appear 
from  the  following  diagnosis  : — (Bi-pinnate  ?)  pinnse  quite  close, 
nearly  opposite,  broadly  lanceolate,  broadly  obtuse,  the  lower  ones 
shorter,  attached  by  the  whole  of  the  base  where  it  is  only  very 
slightly  constricted.  Veins  only  faintly  visible,  but  there  are 
traces  of  a  costa  in  nearly  all  the  pinnules  which  is  evanescent. 
Kachis  very  thick. 

While  the  venation  is  so  indistinct  we  cannot  be  sure 
that  the  fossil  is  a  Thinnfeldia.  It  bears  some  resemblance 
to  T.  indica,  Feistmantel  and  more  to  T.  decurrens,  Schenk, 
a  E,h?etic  and  Liassic  plant  of  Europe,  differing  only  in  the  form 
of  the  pinnse,  which  are  more  obtuse.  I  think  I  have  also 
recognized  varieties  of  this  Fern  in  ironstone  nodules,  which  have 
evidently  been  derived  from  the  Hawkesbury  rocks  by  weathering. 
The  decomposition  of  the  plants  has  given  rise  to  a  nucleus  by 
deoxidizing  the  ferric  oxides  in  the  felspars  contained  in  the  sand- 
stone, as  stated  in  the  paper  on  the  Hawkesbury  sandstone  in  the 
Roy.  Soc.  N.  S.  Wales  for  1882.  A  careful  examination  of  these 
nodules  generally  manifests  some  fragments  of  plant  remains. 

Thinnfeldia  odontopteroides. — Morris  (1845)  Physical  Des. 
K.S.W.,  Strzelecki,  as  Pecopteris  p.  249,  pi.  vi.,  figs.  2,  3,  4  ;  1847, 
Gleichenites  odontopteroides,  M'Coy,  A.  and  M.  Nat.  History,  vol. 
XX,  2nd  Ser.,  p.  147,  1850,  Idem.  linger.,  G-enera  et  species  plant, 
fossilium,  p.  208  ;  1869,  CycadojJteris  (?)  odontopteroides,  Schimper, 
Trait,  de  Paleont.  vegetale,  vol.  i.,  p.  488 ;  1869,  Alethopteris  f?) 


104      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

odonto2)teroides,  Schimper,  ibid,  p.  569  ;  1872,  Fecopteris  odontopte- 
roides,  Carruthers,  Qu.  J.  G.  S.,  London,  vol.  xxviii.,  p.  335,  Tab. 
27,  figs.  2,  3  ;  1875,  Odontopteris,  Crepin,  Bull  de  I'Acad.  Royale 
de  Belgique    1875,  vol.  xxxix  ,  2  Serie,  pp.  258-263,  figs.    1-5; 

1877,  Thinnfeldia  morrissi,  Feistmantel,  N.  J.,  Mineral,  &c.,  1877. 
p.  179  ;  1878,  Fecopteris  odontopteroides,  Etheridge  (R.),  Catalogue 
of  Australian  Fossils,  p.  98  ;  1878-79,  Thinnfeldia  odontopteroides, 
Feistmantel,  Flora  des  oestl.  Australiens,  Palaeontograpliica, 
Supplement  iii.  Hef.  iii.,  pp.  105,  165  ;  1878,  Cycadopteris^  M. 
Zeiller  in  Guide  du  Geologue  al'Exposition  Universelle  (Paris)  de 

1878,  &c.  ;  1880,  Thinnfeldia  crassinervis,  Gein.,  and  Fecopteris 
odontopteroides,  Morr.,  probably  identical,  A.  G.  Nathorst  in 
Ofbers.  of  Kongl  Yel  Akad.  Stockholm,  Forhandl,  1880,  No.  5 
(Review  in  botan.  Centralblatt,  No.  2,  page  328,  1881). 
Thinnfeldia  odontopteroides^  Feistmantel,  Fossil  Flora  of  Damuda 
and  Panchet  div.,  p.  85,  pi.  xxiii.,  A,  figs.  7,  9,  from  whence  the 
foregoing  synonymy  is  for  the  most  part  taken. 

This  widely  spread  fern,  which  is  a  very  common  fossil  in  Aus- 
tralia and  Tasmania  though  rare  apparently  in  India,  was  first 
described  by  Morris  from  very  imperfect  and  very  incomplete  spe- 
cimens and  so  to  a  certain  extent  was  the  figure  of  Carruthers 
(Geol.  of  Queensland,  loc  cit.,  p.  355^.  The  numbers  of  speci- 
mens since  found  gave  every  facility  to  Dr.  Feistmantel  for  the 
following  diagnosis.  Frond  of  varying  size  from  small  to  large, 
simple  or  dichotomously  divided.  Simple  fronds,  pinnate, 
pinnatifid,  pinnae  long,  pinnules  rhomboid-ovate,  here  and 
there  dentate,  connate  at  the  base,  lower  basal  ones  inserted  on  the 
rachis,  semi-elliptic,  or  connected  with  the  following  pinnule. 
Dichotomous  fronds  pinnatifid  or  pinnate  pinnatifid ;  pinnae  in 
the  undivided  portion  and  near  the  division  close  and  short,  those 
of  the  branches  longer  ;  pinnules  variable,  sometimes  obliquely 
ovate,  oblong,  sometimes  quadrately  ovate,  entire,  or  obliquely 
truncate  above,  or  indentate  ;  on  the  frond  pinnate  pinnatifid, 
lowest  basal  pinnules,  even  those  remote  and  those  in  the  upper 
part  fixed  to  the  rachis.  Veins,  rising  partly  from  one  which  is 
almost  median,  coming  from  the   basal    part   of  the   leaf  at  the 


BY    THE    REV.  J.  E.   TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  105 

rachis,  and  forking  frequently,  and  some  also  forking  coming 
direct  from  the  rachis. 

In  this  diagnosis  Dr.  O.  Feistmantel  has  included  all  the  different 
variations  to  which  the  species  is  subject.  He  has  paid  much 
attention  to  it,  and  it  is  best  perhaps  to  give  an  abridgement  of 
his  own  remarks  as  they  stand  in  the  descriptions  of  the  Damuda 
and  Panchet  divisions  of  the  Gondwana  systems  (India*),  and  as 
they  are  summarized  in  the  paper  read  before  the  iloyal  Society 
of  New  South  Wales  in  1880.  After  stating  that  he  believes  he 
can  identify  this  peculiar  fossil  amongst  the  Lower  Grondwana 
plants  he  remarks  that  this  species  has  undergone  numerous  trans- 
migrations from  one  genus  into  another,  its  proper  place  not  being 
finally  settled  yet.  Professor  Morris  did  not  like  to  decide  on  its 
systematic  position,  but  from  the  dichotomy  of  the  leaf  Professor 
M'Coy  placed  it  provisionally  with  GleicJienites,  and  so  on  with 
other  authors  whose  opinions  will  be  quoted  presently.  When 
Professor  Geinitz  sent  me  in  1876  his  paper  on  the  Rhsetic  plants 
of  the  Argentine  Pepublic  (Cassel  1876),  I  was  at  once  struck 
with  the  similarity  of  his  Thinnfeldia  crassinervis  with  Pecopteris 
odontopteroides,  and  quite  recently  I  find  the  same  view  expressed 
by  Herr  Nathorst,  f  who  even  thinks  that  both  these  plants  are 
identical,  after  having  seen  the  specimens  from  Queensland  which 
are  described  by  Mr.  Carruthers.  I  have  myself  had  an  opportunity 
of  examining  several  specimens  from  various  localities  in  Australia, 
and  although  sometimes  differing  in  appearance,  yet  from  all  the 
other  characters  they  have,  I  think  that  they  are  to  be  considered 
identical.  Considering  the  difi*erences  they  present  from  Odonfoj)- 
teris,  Gtenopteris,  and  Pachypteris,  it  appeared  to  me  best  to  place 
this  fossil  with  Thinnfeldia. 

The  difierences  to  which  Dr.  Feistmantel  refers  are  those  between 
the  very  large  fronds  from  Mount  Victoria  and  the  short,  neat, 
and  fern-like  forms  in  the  coalbeds  of  Ipswich.  The  species,  how- 
ever, abounds  in  the  Tivoli  mine,  and  every  intermediate  form  can  be 

*  Mem.  Geol.  Survey  India.  Fossil  flora  of  the  Gondwana  System,  vol  3, 
part  2,  p.  86. 

t  Ofvers  Kongl.  Vet.  Akad.,  Stockholm,  Forhandl,  ISSO,  No.  5  (see  also 
Nuren  in  Botan,  Centralblatt,  No.  2,  p.  328,  1881. 


106      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

obtained  on  the  same  piece  of  black  shale.  It  must  haA  e  been  a  very 
large  plant,  and  grew  to  immense  size,  even  in  the  poorest  sandy 
soil.  It  is  found  in  the  Hawkesbury  sandstones  in  very  poor 
sand,  and  no  traces  of  a  vegetable  deposit  any  more  than  an  oxi- 
dation of  the  iron  around  the  plant  impressions,  and  in  some  of 
the  laminations.  Fine  specimens  have  been  obtained  from  the 
sandstone  quarries  at  Dubbo,  which  is  nearly  200  miles  from 
Mount  Victoria. 

The  following  observations  are  from  the  Jour,  of  the  Roy.  Soc, 
N.S.W.,  1880,  p.  113. 

Thinnfeldia  odontoiJteroides^  Fstm.  (Morr.  sp.)  (pis.  xiv,  fig.  5  ; 
XV,  3,  7  ;  xvi,  1  ;  ix  a,  x  a,  and  xi  a). — Prof.  Morris  described  in 
Strzelecki's  above/mentioned  work  a  fossil  plant  from  the  Jeru- 
salem basin,  as  Fecopteris  odontopteroides ,  Morr.,  without  being, 
however,  able  to  justify  this  determination.  Prof.  M'Coy  placed 
later  the  same  species  with  Gleichenites.  Mr.  W.  Carruthers  quotes 
it  from  Queensland  again  as  Pecopteris  odontopteroides  and  gave 
two  figures.  M.  Crepin,  who  described  several  specimens  from 
Tasmania,  classed  it  with  Odonto2)ieris,  and  compared  it  with 
Odontopt.  alpina,  Gein.,  considering  the  beds  from  which  it  came 
as  Carboniferous.  But  its  association,  as  mentioned  before,  on  the 
same  specimens  with  Sphenoptert's  elongata,  Carr.,  leaves  no  doubt 
about  the  correlation  of  these  Tasmanian  beds.  I  could  compare 
specimens  from  Queensland  and  Tasmania,  and  also  from  the 
Wianamatta  and  Hawkesbury  beds  in  New  South  Wales.  The 
comparison  has  shown  that  in  the  specimens  from  all  the  localities 
there  occurs  a  dichotomy  of  the  frond  pretty  regularly  as  in  the 
genus  Thinnfeldia,  under  which  name  I  have  described  it  in  my 
above-mentioned  memoirs.  For  the  support  of  this  view  I  quote 
its  great  resemblance  to  Thinnfeldia  crassinervis ,  Gein.,  from  the 
Rhsetic  beds  of  the  Argentine  Republic. 

Dr.  Feistmantel  calls  attention  to  the  fact  that  this  is  a  charac- 
teristic species  of  the  mesozoic  coal  in  Australia.  It  is  certainly 
never  found  in  the  Newcastle  beds.  It  is  very  common  as  already 
stated  at  the  Tivoli  mine,  associated  with  Equisetum  rotiferum^ 
at  Bundamba,  in  fact  in  all  the  Ipswich  coal   basin.     It  is  found 


BY    THE    REV.  J.   E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  107 

in  the  Hawkesbuiy  sandstone,  or  the  similar  ariel  sandstone, 
extending  far  to  the  westward,  in  fact  over  the  continent.  This 
sandstone  is  of  different  ages.  Some  of  it  over-lies  the  Cretaceous 
rocks,  though  as  far  as  T  know  Thinnfeldia  odontopteroides  has 
not  been  found  in  strata  which  are  clearly  above  the  Cretaceous. 

Thinnfeldia  odontopterodes  var.  falcata.  plate  8,  fig.  1.  Frond 
graceful  and  somewhat  of  the  same  size  as  T.  odontopteroides 
simple  and  dichotomously  divided,  pinnate  pinnatifid,  pinnae  long 
and  curved  broadly  lanceolate,  becoming  long  and  falcate  as  they 
ascend  the  rachis,  entire,  opposite,  very  close  but  not  connate,  base 
broad,  and  inserted  by  its  whole  length  upon  the  rachis,  becoming 
close  and  short,  but  always  lanceolate  at  the  apex,  at  the  base  or 
near  the  dichotomous  division.  Veins  nearly  the  same  as  T. 
odontopteroides,  but  the  costa  though  forking  continually  is  more 
conspicuous,  diverging  from  the  rachis  at  a  very  acute  angle ; 
some  nerves  also  forking,  running  direct  from  the  rachis.  Plant 
evidently  coriaceous,  rachis  broad  and  stout  with  a  conspicuous 
double  groove,  abundant  at  the  Kosewood  scrubs  about  ten 
miles  from  Ipswich,  where  it  is  associated  with  the  Alethopteris 
australis,  Thinnfeldia  odontopteroides,  Sphenopteris  elongata,  and 
other  common  forms  of  the  Tivoli  coal  flora.  It  is  by  far  the 
most  abundant  form,  and  well  preserved,  showing  the  workings 
and  venation  very  distinctly. 

Though  Dr.  Feistmantel  would  seem  in  his  diagnosis  of  T. 
odontopteroides  to  have  given  almost  every  variety  of  form,  yet 
the  peculiarities  of  this  species  stand  distinct  and  marked.  It 
was  evidently  a  Fern  of  stouter  habit  than  its  congener,  probably 
not  so  large  in  growth.  The  rachis  is  always  grooved  and  more 
slender,  and  the  terminal  pinnules  form  a  long  lanceolate  pair  in 
some  specimens.  I  do  not,  however,  exclude  the  possibility  that 
this  may  be  a  variety  of  T.  odontopteroides,  but  if  it  be  so  it  is  a 
new  and  distinct  one  which  deserves  to  be  marked. 

Odontopteris.    Brongniart. 
Fronds  pinnate,  generally  bi-pinnate  at  the  apex,  pinnae  pinnate 
and  pinnatifid,  the  apical  ones  single,  sub-opposite  and  sub-alter- 
nate, linear  lanceolate  ;  pinnules  obliquely  inserted   by  the  whole 


108      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

base,  decLirrent,  free,  but  towards  the  apex  more  and  more  con- 
fluent, and  the  terminal  ones  united,  slender,  ovate-acuminate, 
rarely  somewliat  rounded,  the  lowest  ones  seated  partly  on  the 
primary  and  jDartly  on  the  secondary  rachis  of  two  forms,  either 
narrow  at  the  base,  broadly  cuneate,  and  more  or  less  deeply 
emarginate  above,  or  obcordate.  Veins  all  arising  from  the  rachis, 
extremely  fine,  dichotouious,  diverging  as  they  ascend.  No  costa. 
Fructification  unknown. 

This  is  a  Carboniferous  genus  which  has  no  immediate  relation 
to  any  Fern  either  extinct  or  existing,  except  perhaps  JVeuropteris  ; 
but  in  Odontopteris  the  pinnules  are  always  inserted  on  the  whole 
base,  decurrent,  and  often  confluent,  while  in  Neuropteris  they  are 
always  constricted  or  somewhat  pedicellate.  In  the  latter, 
too,  there  is  always  a  median  nerve,  from  which  all  the  others 
take  their  origin,  while  in  Odontopteris  they  all  arise  directly  from 
the  rachis.  Again,  the  basilar  pinnules  of  the  genus  just  named 
are  very  difl'erent  from  the  others,  which  is  not  the  case  in  Neurop- 
teris,  whose  pinnules  are  obtuse  or  rounded  at  the  summit,  while 
the  former  are  often  pointed  and  bent,  or  falcate.  Goeppert  cites 
some  instances  of  the  genus  having  been  found  above  the  true 
Carboniferous,  but  Schimper  believes  this  to  be  a  mistaken  identi- 
fication. It  will  be  seen,  however,  that  M'Coy's  species  now  cited 
is  from  the  so-called  Wianamatta  beds  at  Clarke's  Hill,  near  Cob bity. 

Odontopteris  microphylla,  M'Coy,  (Ann.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol  xx,  p.  147, 
not  figured). — Bi-j^innate,  pinnae  alternate,  oblique  narrow,  about 
three  lines  wide  and  two  inches  long ;  pinnules  alternate  oblique, 
slightly  connate  at  the  base,  obtusely  elliptical,  their  length  only 
equalling  the  width  of  their  base,  no  midrib,  secondary  neuration 
indistinct. 

Ohs. — "  The  only  ()c?on<op^erw  approaching  this  elegant  species 
by  its  alternate  pinnae,  and  very  short  connected  pinnules,  is  the 
0.  schlotheimii,  Br.,  from  which  it  is  distinguished  by  the  smaller 
size,  much  narrower  and  more  oblique  pinnae,  and  by  the  pinnules 
being  proportionately  smaller  and  elliptical  instead  of  bemg 
broadly  rounded.     The  latter  character  also  separates  it  from  the 


BY    THE    REV.  J.   E.   TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  109 

so-called  Fecopteris  desnoyersii,  Br.,  of  the  Oolithe  a  Fougeres, 
Mamers,  Sarthe.  Common  in  the  fine  sandstone  of  Clarke's  Hill, 
N.S.W." 

Cyclopteris.      Brongniart. 

Frond  simple,  pedicellate,  flabelliform  or  reniform,  symmetrical, 
membranaceous,  margin  sub-entire,  crenulate,  or  fringed ;  veins 
arising  from  the  base,  forking  frequently,  radiating,  slender,  all 
reaching  the  margin. 

This  genus  connects  the  Sphenopteride?s  and  Neuropteridese.  No 
pinnate  form  is  included  in  it.  It  is  related  to  species  of  Hymeno- 
phyllum  with  a  simple  frond  such  as'ZT.  reniforme,  which  grows  in 
N.  Zealand. 

Cyclopteris  cuneata.  Carruthers  (Quart.  Jour.  Geol.  for  1872. 
Append,  to  Daintree's  Essay,  p.  355,  pi.  29,  fig.  5.) — Form  of  the 
entire  frond  unknown,  pinnae  entire,  large  cuneate,  narrowed  at  the 
base,  with  the  distal  margins  rounded,  veins  delicate,  once  or  twice 
dichotomously  divided,  sometimes  anastomosing  once  in  their  length 
in  the  middle  of  the  pinnae. 

"  Notwithstanding  the  slight  anastomosis  of  the  veins,  these 
separate  pinnae,  which  are  not  very  frequent,  represent  a  very 
distinct  species  of  the  genus  Cyclopteris.  Locality,  Tivoli  Coal 
Mine." 

Dr.  O.  Feistmantel  thinks  this  is  not  a  complete  frond  or  leaflet, 
but  a  wedge-shaped  fragment  broken  ofi*  by  chance.  This  is 
certainly  my  opinion  after  having  examined  the  type  specimen 
which  is  preserved  in  the  Brisbane  Museum.  The  fragmentary 
character  and  the  anastomosis  of  the  veins  inclines  me  to  agree 
with  Dr.  Feistmantel  in  not  regarding  this  as  a  Cyclo2)teris. 
Possibly  it  may  belong  to  some  fern  of  the  net-veined  order 
(Dictyopteridese).  See  further  remarks  on  some  fossils  of  this  kind 
from  the  Ipswich  coal  beds.  Some  fragments  of  Sagenoi^teris  may 
resemble  it. 

Pecopteride^. 

Frond  undivided,  simple,  or  pinnate  many  times  in  a  beautiful 
manner.  Pinnules  often  entire,  but  here  and  there  sub-divided 
and  with  a  dentate  margin,  base  wholly  adnate,  rarely  constricted. 


110      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

sometimes  confluent.  Costa  persistent  to  the  apex,  pinnately 
ramose ;  veins  dichotomous  diverging  to  the  margin  at  a  more  or 
less  open  angle.  Venules  simple,  forking  twice  or  thrice,  rarely 
anastomosing.  When  sori  are  present  they  are  marginal  or  dis- 
jDosed  towards  the  middle  of  the  pinnule,  punctiform,  oval  or  linear. 
This  order  is  established  entirely  upon  the  venation,  and  unites 
the  characters  of  very  diJSferent  living  genera  and  families.  On 
this  account  the  classification  of  the  various  forms  in  one  intel- 
ligible system  has  hitherto  failed 

Pecopteris,  Brongniart. 

Veins  emerging  from  the  costa  in  a  more  or  less  open  angle, 
diverging  arcuately,  simple  or  dichotomous,  venules  often  forked. 

Pecoj^teris  tenuifolia,  M'Coy  (Ann.  Nat.  Hist.,  vol.  20,  p.  152, 
PL  IX,,  fig.  6.)  Bi-pinnatifid  (?)  pinnules  and  rachis  very  slender, 
each  about  half  a  line  wide ;  pinnules  very  long,  oblique,  linear, 
apparently  simply  united  to  the  rachis  by  their  entire  base,  one 
very  strong  costa  running  throughout,  veins  unknown.  Ohs. — 
"  If  this  be  truly  a  fecopteris  it  is  distinct  from  all  others  by  its 
very  narrow  linear  leaflets.  The  only  plant  I  have  seen  at  all 
resembling  it  is  the  Za7)iites  ohtusifolius  from  the  shale  of  the 
Oolitic  coal  fields,  Blackheath,  Richmond,  United  States,  exiiibited 
some  weeks  since  by  Mr.  Lyell  to  the  Geological  Society.  The 
specimens  alluded  to  of  this  latter  plant  seem  imperfectly  pre- 
served, but  still  show  on  some  portions  of  the  pinnules  a  neuration 
running  parallel  with  a  strong  midrib.  This  great  costa  seems  to 
me  to  be  incompatible  with  Zamites,  so  that  although  I  point  to 
the  resemblance  between  the  American  and  Australian  plants,  I 
prefer  placing  the  latter  provisionally  in  Fecopteris,  as  I  have  seen 
no  trace  in  my  imperfectly  preserved  specimens  of  a  parallel  vena- 
tion, and  even  if  it  should  hereafter  be  found  to  exist,  I  conceive 
it  would  be  necessary  to  form  a  new  genus  intermediate  in  form, 
venation,  and,  I  think,  mode  of  attachment  of  the  pinnules  to  the 
rachis  between  Zamites  and  Pecopteris,  for  the  reception  of  these 
two  plants.  One  specimen  has  occurred  in  the  fine  sandstone  of 
Clarke's  Hill,  N.S.  Wales." 


BY    THE    REV.  J.   E.   TENISON-WOODS,   P.G.S.,  F.L.S.  Ill 

Alethopteris,  Sternberg  (as  limited  by  Scliimper.) 

Frond  bi-  or  tri-pinnate.  Pinnules  coriaceous,  simple,  often 
quite  entire,  base  wide,  decurrent,  free  or  simple,  margin 
reflexed  or  re  volute  (covering  sori  1)  Costa,  immersed  in  a 
groove  above,  but  prominent  behind  ;  veins,  prominent  or  flat, 
simple  or  forking  once,  the  venules  diverging  and  reaching  the 
margin. 

The  genus  which  comes  nearest  to  this  amongst  existing  forms, 
is  the  common  Pteris  or  Brake,  excluding  those  species  which 
have  a  reticulate  venation  ( Loncho'pteTis) .  Schimper  is  of  opinion, 
that  it  is  impossible  to  establish  any  clear  line  of  demarcation 
between  AlethopteiHs  amd  Pecopteris,  though  they  form  characteristic 
groups  sufficiently  distinct.* 

Alethoiyteris  australis,  Morris  (in  Strzelecki  as  PecojJteris,  p.  248, 
PI.  viii  ,  fig.  1,  2,  2  a.).  Frond  bi-pinnate,  pinnje  oblique,  alternate, 
rather  distant ;  pinnules  thin,,  falcate,  and  rather  obtuse,  oblique 
and  somewhat  incurved,  more  or  less  adnate  to  the  rachis,  and 
sometimes  decurrent,  dilate  at  the  base  or  auriculate  Costa,  slightly 
flexuous,  evanescing  towards  the  apex,  veins  oblique,  bifurcate  or 
dichotomous.  Obs.  This  fern  belongs  to  the  Neuropteroid  division 
of  Pecopteris  and  bears  much  greater  resemblance  to  the  P.  whit- 
biensis  and  P.  tenuis  of  the  Oolitic  series  of  England,  than  to  any 
other  species  described  by  Brongniart  as  occurring  in  the  coal 
measures.  The  frond  ajDpears  to  have  been  bi-pinnate  with  oblique 
alternate  pinnae,  the  pinnules  thin,  somewhat  falcate  and  obtuse, 
the  margins  of  which  vary  slightly  in  form;  being  either  sinuous 
or  entire,  according  to  their  position  on  the  frond.  This  fossil 
bears  considerable  analogy  to  the  Pecopteris  lindleyana,  figured  in 
Professor  Boyle's  illustrations. 


*  Feistmantel  in  his  papers  in  the  Indian  Geological  Survey,  says  that  this 
genus  is  especially  distinguished  by  having  the  pinnae  inserted  in  the  stem 
by  their  whole  base,  and  by  their  basal  portions  being  generally  joined 
together.  See  Foss.  Flora,  Gondwana,  vol.  2,  p.  22.  I  am  afraid  however, 
that  in  some  species,  variability  may  be  seen  in  this  particular.  But  the 
generic  distinction  is  of  value,  because  the  genus  Pecopteris  would  be  so  large 
and  unwieldy  without  it. 


112      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

Professor  M'Coy  describes  this  species  as  a  Pecopteris  in  the 
Decades  of  the  Paleontology  of  Victoria,  (pi.  xiv.,  fig  3,  p.  17). 
stating  that  it  is  the  same  species  as  P.  Scarhurgensis,  Bean 
MSS.,  which  Mr.  Leckenberg  considers  intermediate  •  between 
P.  insignis  and  P.  ligata  of  the  same  Yorkshire  Oolite  beds.  The 
only  difference  appears  to  be  in  the  slight  apical  serration  of  the 
pinnules  in  the  European  species.  Professor  M'Coy  also  remarks 
that  the  veins  usually  fork  only  once,  which  is  the  case  with  the 
European  and  Australian  species,  while  a  secondary  marginal 
branching  is  rare,  though  in  the  figure  given  by  Morris  from  the 
Jerusalem  (Tasmn.)  coal  it  appears  to  be  common.  This  however 
is  sometimes  the  case  in  the  English  Oolitic  plants.  Professor 
M 'Coy's  species  came  from  Bellerine  near  Geelong,  Morris's  speci- 
mens came  from  the  Jerusalem  basin  in  Tasmania.  Very  common 
in  all  the  Ipswich,  Q.  L.j  coal  basin,  Darling  Downs,  Clarence 
Piver,  New  South  "Wales.  The  Queensland  specimens  have  at 
times  an  obtusely  serrated  margin,  and  there  are  also  varieties  very 
close  to  ovir  common  Pteris  aquilina  of  world  wide  distribution. 
In  form  and  venation  the  fossil  and  living  species  are  certainly 
closely  allied,  but  Professor  Heer  *  and  Professor  Schimper  f 
have  shown  by  the  discovery  of  the  fructification,  that  the  sori 
were  obliquely  placed  along  the  veins  and  not  marginal  as  in  Pteris. 
A.vjhitbyensis  Goepp.,  is  therefore  referred  to  by  Heer,  as  Asjjienmm 
whithyense.  It  is  so  nearly  allied  to  our  fossil  that  the  two  can 
hardly  be  considered  even  as  varieties.  If  we  regard  them  as  one, 
it  is  one  of  the  most  wide-spread  fossils  known.  In  addition  to  the 
large  area  over  which  it  can  be  traced  in  Aiistralia,  it  has  been 
found  in  Yorkshire,  Switzerland,  S.  Prussia,  Persia,  Siberia,  the 
Amur  countries,  and  Japan.    It  is  distinctly  a  Lower  Jurassic  species. 

Aletho2:>teris  concinna,  n.s.  PL  9,  fig.  1. — Frond  bi-pinnate, 
with  rather  long  rounded  and  obtuse  leaflets ;  costa  faint,  veins 
numerous  and  close,  emerging  at  an  acute  angle,  forking  once,  the 
venules  very  close  and  parallel,  reaching  the  margin. 

*  Flora  fossilis  artica  vol.  iv. 

t  Handbuch  der  Paleontologie,  Zittel  and  Schimper  (1879),  vol.  2,  p.  97. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.    E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  113 

Locality?  I  suspect  this  is  from  Ballinore  Mine,  Talbragar 
River,  from  tlie  nature  of  the  matrix,  but  it  may  have  come  from 
Ipswich,  Q.  L.  The  rounded  and  obtuse  leaves,  and  the  close- 
ness of  the  veins  and  venules,  distinguish  this  species 

Alethopteris  currani  n.s.,  Plate  6,  fig.  4. — This  fossil,  if  I  may 
judge  from  the  small  fragment,  appears  to  have  belonged  to  the 
division  Pecoj^leris  acrostichides  of  Schitnper,  in  which  the  frond 
which  is  pinnate  and  bi-pinnate,  has  the  pinnules  adherent  by  the 
whole  base  and  confluent.  The  veins  are  slender,  costa  disappear- 
ing near  the  apex,  the  veins  forking.  Of  the  sori,  nothing  is 
known,  and  the  relations  may  have  been  as  in  other  members  of  the 
genus,  with  Asplenium.  In  this  case,  the  secondary  pinnules  only 
are  seen,  in  the  apex  of  what  has  been  probably  a  portion  of  the 
frond.  The  pinnules  are  falcate,  oblique,  oblong  lanceolate,  slightly 
serrated  at  the  upper  edge,  rounded  at  the  apex  into  a  blunt  point, 
nearly  opposite,  adherent  by  the  whole  base,  confluent.  Costa  of 
the  pinnules  emerging  from  the  rachis  at  a  very  acute  angle  ;  veins 
few,  conspicuous,  forking  once,  the  venules  reaching  the  margin 
at  the  re-entering  angle  of  the  serrations,  apical  pinnules  acute. 
Length  of  fragment,  25  ;  greatest  width,  15  ;  length  of  longest 
pinnule,  10  ;  width  of  base,  6  ;  all  millimetres. 

Ballinore  coal  field.  The  only  species  to  which  I  can  compare 
this,  is  to  the  preceding  A.  wJiithiensis.  The  difierences  however, 
are  very  great.  The  pinnules  and  median  vein  are  very  much 
more  oblique,  the  rachis  stouter,  and  the  pinnules  are  also 
lobed,  broader,  the  whole  frond  large,  but  more  tender  and 
membranaceous. 

Merianopteris.  Heer.^ 

Sterile  fronds  tri-pinnate,  elegant,  secondary  pinnse  elongate, 
segments  of  pinnae  inconspicuous,  costa  arcuate,  veins  dichotomous, 
the  lowest  two  from  contiguous  pinnules  bending  towards  each 
other  and  anastomosing. 

This  diagnosis  is  applied  by  Dr.  Heer,  to  distinguish  two  species 
of  Ferns  from  the  Upper   Lias  in   Switzerland.     The   principal 

*  0.  Heer,  Flora  Fossilis  Helvetiae,  1877. 


114      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

characteristic  is  the  arching  and  anastomosis  of  the  basal  secondary 
nerves  of  contiguous  pinnules.  They  are  small  Ferns,  but  Dr. 
Feistmantel  found  one  of  much  larger  size  in  the  Ramiganj  coal 
plant  beds  in  India,  which  he  described  in  his  essay  on  the  Flora, 
Damuda  and  Panchet  Divisions*  I  have  found  what  I  believe  to 
be  the  same  fossil  in  the  Ballinore  coal  beds  in  N.  S.  Wales.  It 
is  thus  described. 

Merianopteris  major.  Feist,  loc.  cit.  Frond  larsfe,  tri-pinnate, 
secondary  pinnae  somewhat  broadly  elongate,  only  a  little  nar- 
rowed towards  the  apex,  pinnati-sect  or  pinnatifid,  pinnules  or 
lobes  rounded  at  the  apex  and  very  thin-leaved,  costa  distinct, 
and  somewhat  curved  at  the  apex  of  the  veins,  the  two  lowest 
divide  on  emerging  and  join  with  the  same  of  the  adjoining  leaflets 
in  a  pointed  arch,  while  the  others  are  placed  more  towards  the 
upper  portion  of  the  pinnule,  pass  out  at  a  very  acute  angle  from 
the  costa,  are  also  dichotomous,  and  somewhat  flexuous. 

The  state  of  preservation  in  the  Indian  and  Australian  forms 
shows  a  large  but  very  thin-leaved  and  tender  Fern.  From  the 
figures  in  Feistmantel,  one  would  conclude  that  the  pinnules  are 
united,  and  the  arching  vein  spreads  from  one  leaflet  to  the  other  in 
the  manner  indicated.  This  occurs  more  rarely  in  the  Australian 
fossils.  The  pinnules  are  sometimes  quite  distinct,  as  I  have 
figured  in  the  plate,  which  is  a  little  larger  than  nature,  the  leaflet 
three  times  natural  size.  There  are  specimens  in  which  the 
anostomosing  nerves  quite  correspond  with  Feistmantel's  detinition, 
and  I  have  no  doubt  that  in  all  other  respects  they  are  the  same. 
The  Indian  beds  are  regarded  as  Lias.  The  Fern  is  not  uncommon 
but  probably  not  so  common  as  Alethopteris  currani,  in  these  strata. 

TiENIOPTERIDEyE. 

Fronds  stipitate,  simple,  oblong,  lanceolate  and  broadly  elongate, 
entire  or  pinnate,  pinnae  linear,  Ungulate,  more  or  less  acuminate, 
shortly  pedicellate  or  sessile.     Rachis  and  costa  conspicuous,  veins 

*  Op.  cit.  Vol.  III.,  part  2  &  3,  p.  83.  Plate  19  A,  figs.  9  &  11.  (There  is 
a  mistake  in  the  reference  page  opposite  the  plate,  9  to  ii.,  being  printed 
instead  of  9  to  11.) 


BY    THE    REV.  J.   E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  115 

emerging  at  au  acute  angle  but  immediately  becoming  horizontal 
or  oblique  ;  simple  and  dichotomous.  Sori  transversely  oblong, 
submarginal,  or  rounded  and  scattered  over  all  the  lower  part  of 
the  surface  or  in  series  along  the  venules. 

This  order  is  founded  entirely  on  the  neuration  and  would 
include  amongst  living  Ferns  the  Marattiacece,  the  Aspidiacecej 
and  probably  the  Acrostichiacece  (Schimper).  The  fructification 
is  certainly  that  of  Marattia  in  some  cases,  and  that  of  Acrosti- 
chum  in  others,  except  that  in  the  latter  the  sori  are  distributed 
over  the  terminal  under  surface  of  the  frond,  as  we  see  in  our 
common  Stag's-horn  Fern  [Platy cerium)  and  the  equally  common 
Queensland  swamp  Fern  Acrostichum  aureum. 

It  has  already  been  stated  what  great  importance  was  attached 
to  one  species  of  Toeniopieris  from  the  fact  that  it  was  chosen  as 
the  typical  fossil  of  certain  coal  deposits  in  Australia.  The  late 
Mr.  Daintree  stated  that  Toeniopteris  and  Glossopteris  were 
characteristic  fossils  of  different  formations  in  Australia,  and  were 
never  found  associated  in  the  same  beds.  Tceniopteris,  he  thought 
was  indicative  of  Australian  carbonaceous  beds  of  mesozoic  age 
and  Glossopteris  was  characteristic  of  our  paleozoic  coal  dej^osits. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Clarke  also  laid  stress  upon  the  Tcenioptens  fossils, 
so  that  the  name  came  prominently  forward  in  the  discussion 
between  himself  and  Prof.  M'Coy.*  On  this  account  it  may  be 
necessary  to  state  briefly  what  are  the  latest  views  on  the  subject 
of  these  fossils. 

The  genus,  Toeniopteris,  was  established  by  Brongniart  in  1828 
for  Ferns  with  simple  entire  leaves,  a  stiff  thick  costa  and  per- 
pendicular veins  either  simple  or  forked  at  the  base.  In  1838 
Count  Sternberg  divided  the  genus  into  two  groups — 1.  With 
simple  fronds  and  2.,  with  pinnate  fronds,  and  he  enlarged  the 
definition,  making  it  include  all  Ferns  with  simple  large  stipitate 
fronds,  entire  or  dentate,  or  profoundly  pinnatifid  or  pinnate. 
Many  different  genera  were  then  united  which  have  been  sub- 
sequently  separated.      The  history  of    the   changes    which  ensued 

*  See  Trans.  Roy.  Soc  .  Victoria,  1S60,  page  89  ;  also,  Art.  Ill,  page  96, 
Art.  XIII,  page  209  and  Art.  XIV,  page  215. 


116      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

need  not  be  specified  as  they  have  no  immediate  bearing  on  the 
Australian  fossil  flora.  In  all  of  them  the  characters  of  Tceniop- 
teris  were  regarded  as  of  generic  value  only,  and  the  Ferns  were 
included  with  the  Danosacece  which  belongs  to  the  Marattiacece. 
In  1869  Schimper  erected  the  characters  of  Tceniopteris  into  one 
of  his  five  orders  of  Ferns  which  are — 1,  Si:)henopteridece  ;  2. 
Neuropteridece ;  3,  Fecopterideee,  ;  4,  Tceniopteridece  ;  5,  Dictyop- 
terideoe.  The  definition  of  Schimper  for  the  TceniopteridecB  is 
that  which  is  given  above.  It  is  divided  into  seven  genera — 1. 
Twniopteris,  simple  scolopendriform  fronds  with  horizontal  or 
oblique  veins  and  unknown  fructification.  2.  AiigiojUeridium, 
Pinnate  fronds  with  the  fructification  of  the  living  Angiopteris. 
In  all  formations  from  the  Trias  to  the  present  day.  3.  Marat- 
tiopsis,  long  linear  dentate  pinna?  with  narrow  filiform  costa  and 
oblique  veins.  A  tertiary  genus  like  our  own  Marattia  fraxinea. 
4.  Oleandridium,  simple  lanceolate  elongate  or  Ungulate 
coriaceous  fronds  with  the  fructification  of  Aspidium.  Khsetic  to 
tertiary.  5.  Macrotoenio2:>teris,  Si  Isirge  TceniojJteris  with,  sometimes 
a  dentate  margin  and  fructification  of  Aspidium.  Rhaetic, 
Oolitic  and  Tertiary.  6.  Danwopsis.  a  Triassic  form  like  the 
living  Bancea.  7.  Danceides,  Pinnate  fronds  with  the  veins 
emerging  from  a  narrow  costa  at  a  right  angle  with  ex-annulate 
sporangia,  which  are  situate  at  the  under  side  near  the  margin,  &c. 
From  these  definitions  it  will  be  seen  that  all  the  Ferns  of  the 
family  where  the  fructification  is  not  known  are  referred  to 
Tceniopteris  or  MacrotcBniopteris,  and  these  include  simple  fronds 
with  either  horizontal  or  oblique  veins. 

T^NioPTERis,  Brongniart. 

Frond  simple  and  in  habit  like  Scolopendron.  Costa  conspicuous 
above,  sub-terete  underneath,  veins  generally  conspicuous,  slender, 
numerous  and  close,  dichotomous  a  little  above  the  base  ;  venules 
simple  or  dichotomous,  parallel,  with  an  occasional  intermixture  of 
simple  nerves. 

In  this  genus  the  veins  emerge  from  a  very  prominent  costa  at 
almost  a   right  angle.     They  are  very  close,  curved  or  straight. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.   E.   TENISON-WOODS,   F.G.S,,  F.L.S-  117 

simj3le,  or  forking  once  or  twice,  and  there  are  never  any  venules. 
Some  authors  thought  that  the  genus  may  possibly  be  a  Cycad 
allied  to  Stangeria,  but  there  are  very  many  objections  to  this  view. 

Tceniopteris  daintreei,  M'Coy  (Paleon.,  Vict.  PI.  xv  ,  figs.  1  and  2, 
p.  15);  frond  very  long,  linear,  parallel-sided;  substance  thick, 
edges  straight,  costa  very  strong,  veins  extending  at  right  angles 
from  the  midrib  to  the  lateral  margins,  a  few  straight  and  simple, 
the  greater  number  once  forked  at  a  variable  distance  between  the 
midrib  and  lateral  margin,  total  width  of  frond  four  lines,  about 
ten  or  eleven  lateral  veins  in  the  space  of  two  lines  at  the  margin, 
both  of  ordinary  specimens,  four  lines  wide,  and  one  specimen 
nearly  two  inches  long,  but  only  one  and  a  half  lines  wide  through- 
out. 

This  species  has  been  found  in  two  places  in  Victoria,  viz., 
Murndal  on  the  Wannon  river  in  Western  Victoria,  and  at  the 
Barrabool  mills  near  Geelong.  In  the  latter  place  it  was  associa- 
ted with  Alethopteris  australis,  Morris,  and  according  to  Professor 
M'Coy  with  Phyllotheca.  But  I  venture  to  suggest  that  as  the 
identification  of  Phyllotheca  depended  upon  the  stems  alone,  with- 
out the  characteristic  long  linear  sheath  leaves,  it  may  be  doubted 
whether  it  was  the  same  species  as  those  of  the  Newcastle  beds. 
We  have  seen  that  the  stems  of  this  genus  Schizoneura,  Equisetum, 
and  other  Equisetacese  cannot  be  distinguished  from  each  other 
without  leaves.  It  may  then  be  affirmed  that  Tcenwpteris  is  a 
plant  of  the  mesozoic  flora,  and  is  never  found  in  the  !N  ewcastle 
beds,  or  associated  with  any  Newcastle  or  paleozoic  plants. 

T.  carruthersii,  nobis  (T.  daintreei  Carruthers.  Proc.  Geol. 
Soc,  London,  April  1872,  p.  355).  Frond  simple  (?),  broad  linear, 
costa  somewhat  thick,  veins  leaving  it  at  an  acute  angle,  then 
passing  out  at  right  angles  to  the  margin,  once  or  twice  dichoto- 
mously  divided.     Tivoli  coal  mine  Ipswich,  Queensland. 

The  venation  and  general  form  of  this  plant  differ  very  much 
from  Professor  M'Coy's  TcBniopteris  daintreei,  with  which  Mr. 
Carruthers  identified  it.  It  is  a  larger  plant  and  the  veins,  which 
are  much  finer  and  more  numerous,  frequently  emerge  from  the 
midrib  obliquely,  which  they  never  do  in  M'Coy's  species.     Both 


118      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

are  found  in  the  Tivoli  mine,  and  as  Dr.  Feistmantel  lias  already 
suggested  the  distinctness  of  the  species,  I  venture  to  give  the  one 
first  figured  and  described  by  Carruthers,  the  name  of  that  illus- 
trious paleontological  botanist.  I  have  compared  specimens  from 
the  Wannon,  Victoria,  side  by  side  with  the  Ipswich  plant,  and 
can  affirm  that  they  are  quite  difierent. 

MACROTiENiOPTERis.      Schimper. 

Large  and  handsome  fronds  more  or  less  broadly  and  elongately 
lingulate,  obtuse  or  acuminate,  entire  or  rarely  irregularly  pinnately 
incised. 

The  distinction  between  this  genus  and  TcBniopteris  is  only  in 
the  large  and  handsome  form  of  the  fronds.  They  are  very  like 
our  Australian  Bird's-nest  ferns  (^Asplenium  nidus.)  They  are 
common  in  the  Oolitic  coal  of  Richmond,  Virginia,  in  the  Lias  of 
Europe,  and  in  the  Lias  and  Oolitic  coal  measures  of  India.  They 
also  reach  the  Tertiary  formations. 

Macrotceniopteris  ivianamaHce  Feistm.  (Paleoz.  u.  Mesoz,  Flora 
des  Ost  Australiens  p.  107.  PI.  13,  f.  2.)  Frond  elongately 
obovate,  simple,  base  attenuate,  apex  1  Bachis  thick,  grooved_'or 
striated.  Veins  emerging  at  an  angle  of  from  20  to  25  deg.,  close, 
near  the  rachis  from  6  to  8-tenths  of  a  millim.  apart,  slender, 
dichotomous  towards  the  margin.  See  plate  10a.  This  fossil  is 
quoted  from  the  Wianamatta,  above  the  Hawkesbury  sandstone. 
I  have  some  similar  specimens  near  Ipswich,  but  the  dichotomy  of 
the  veins  is  near  the  rachis  and  it  may  be  a  distinct  species. 

Angiopteridium.^      Schimper  1869. 

Frond  pinnate,  pinnae  articulate  and  finally  deciduous.  Sori 
when  visible  convex — linear,  marginal,  bivalvate  like  Angiopteris. 

The  leaves  of  these  Ferns  were  formerly  classed  as  Tcetiiopteris, 
and  then  some  of  them  were  removed  to  the  Cycads  as  Stangerites. 
The  present  genus  was  established  by  Schimper  as  noted  above, 
who  showed  that  the  specimens  on  which  he  founded  his  division 

*  Pal.  Veget.     Vol.  1.,  p.  602.     Also,  Feistmantel.  Rajmahal  Flora. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.   E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  119 

were  really  Ferns  but  differing  from  Tceniopteris  in  having 
deciduous  pinnne.  I  need  scarcely  say  that  the  living  Ferns 
which  these  species  most  resemble  never  have  deciduous  leaves. 

Angioptei'idium  ensis.  Oldham.  Fossil  Fl.,  Rajmahal  Hills. 
(Foss.  Fl.  Gondwana,  vol.  1,  p.  35,  pi.  6,  figs  8,  9,  10.)— Frond 
pinnate,  pinnae  elongate,  linear  ovate,  acuminate  at  the  apex  • 
costa  thick,  rapidly  diminishing ;  veins  prominent,  often  forked 
once  or  twice,  emerging  obliquely  from  the  costa. 

This  variety  is  easily  distinguished  from  the  other  forms  by  the 
obliquity  of  the  secondary  nerves,  by  the  rapid  thinning  out  of 
the  midrib,  and  by  the  generally  subovate  or  lanceolate  form  of 
the  pinnule  and  the  forking  of  the  veins  near  the  edge  of  the  leaflet. 
A  false  serration  is  another  distinguishing  feature. 

I  know  of  nothing  to  prevent  my  referring  the  fossils  which  are 
found  at  Rosewood,  near  Ipswich,  Q.L.,  to  this  form,  as  it  corre- 
sponds exactly  with  the  figures  and  with  the  description.  I  must 
confess  that  I  should  at  first  been  inclined  to  regard  the  specimen 
as  a  Fern  very  near  in  habit  to  Blechnum.'^ 

The  affinities  of  this  species  are  Jurassic  and  Rhsetic. 
Sub-order.     Dictyopteride^. 

Nerves  reticulate,  fronds  many  times  pinnate  or  pinnatifid.f 

A.  With  a  midrib. 

a.  Costa  conspicuous,  frond  simple.     Glossopteris. 
h.  Costa  inconspicuous,  except  in  the  middle,  frond  quad 
rilobate.     Sagenopteris. 

B.  Without  a  costa.      Gangamopteris. 

Glossopteris.  Brongniart. 
Fronds  simple,  elongately  elliptical,  acuminate,  entire,  coriaceous, 
petiolate,  rachis  broad,  gradually  tapering  up  to  the  apex.  Veins 
emerging  from  the  rachis  at  an  acute  angle,  from  which  to  the 
middle  of  the  leaf  they  form  a  hexagonally  rhomboid  net ;  thence 
to  the  edge  somewhat  more  free,  dichotomous,  not  so  often  anas- 
tomosing, and  forming  very  large  rhomboidal  areolse.      Sori  rounded 

*  See  also  p.  172.  and  pi.  1,  fig.  6a,  7a,  op.  cit.  (Liassic  Flora  Rajmahal), 
where  Feistmantel  reviews  the  genus  and  species. 

t  In  Schimper  and  Zittel's  Paleonlogie  this  is  only  a  sub-order  of  Tgeni- 
opteridese. 


120      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

M.  Brongniart  states  that  the  partial  reticulation  of  the 
secondary  nerves,  near  the  rachis,  is  the  characteristic  peculiarity 
of  this  genus,  but  M.  Schimper  points  out  after  Morris,  that  this 
is  not  strictly  correct.  The  anastomosis  is  continuous  to  the 
margin,  but  is  less  frequent.  I  have  remarked  that  in  Sageno'pteris 
the  case  is  different.  The  anastomosis  is  frequent  only  near  the 
costa,  and  subsequently  the  veins  become  nearly  parallel,  only 
sending  an  occasional  small  branch  to  unite  with  one  another. 
Detached  leaves  of  Sagenopteris  are  in  many  respects,  like  some 
species  of  Glossojyteris,  and  this  may  afford  a  means  of  readily 
distinguishing  them. 

The  genus  Glossopteris,  as  already  mentioned,  derives  a  special 
interest  in  Australia,  because  it  is  so  well  represented,  and  because 
it  has  been  the  subject  of  so  much  controversy.     In  India  also  it 
has  been  a  source  of  paleontological  dispute,  and  this  has  led  to  a 
thorough    examination    of    its    position    at    the   hands    of    Dr. 
Feistmantel.*     I  avail  myself  of    many  of  his    remarks  in   the 
following    summary.     The    genus    has    a    very    wide    range   in 
geological  time,  from  the  Carboniferous  to  the  Jurassic,  with  one 
species    in    a    tertiary    formation.     It    is    equally    wide    spread 
horizontally.      Besides  being  extensively  found  in  Australia  and 
Tasmania,  it  occurs  in  Africa  in  the  Karoo  formation   (Beaufort 
and  Stormberg  beds),  in  strata  of  supposed  Triassic  age.     In  India, 
it  be^yins  in  the  Talchir  series  (Trias),  becomes  more  numerous  in 
the  Karharbari,  reaches  its  highest  development  in  Damuda  series, 
goes  on  into  the  Panchet,  and  passes  into  the  upper  portion  of  the 
Gondwana  system  (upper  Lias  and  lower  Jura),  and  occasional 
solitary  instances  are  found  with  a  still  higher  position.     In  Russia, 
a  species  is  quoted  from  the  "  Klinische  "  sandstone,  which  is  of 
Cretaceous  age.f     In  Asia  Minor,  there  are  coal  beds  near  Eregli, 
the     ancient     Heraclea     Ponti,     Bithynia,     from     which      two 

*  Foss.  Flora,  Gondwana  Syst.  vol.  iii.,  Flora  Damuda  and  Panchet 
Divisions,  p.  94, 

t  Nouv.  Mem.  Soc.  Imper.  d.  Naturahstes,  Moscow,  vol.  xiii.,  p.  221, 
pi.  19,  fig.  1. 


BY    THE    KEY.  J.   E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  121 

species  of  Glossopteris  have  been  described  by  Schleban,*  but  as  no 
figures  or  descriptions  were  given  Dr.  F.  doubts  the  identification 
especially  as  in  Tchiachefi''s  "  Asie  Mineure"  (1867)  they  are  not 
mentioned  by  Ad.  Brongniart,  who  described  the  fossil  plants  in 
that  work.  But  Schlehan  was  probably  right,  as  R.  Etheridge 
recognized  a  species  of  Glossopteris  amongst  the  fossils  brought  by 
Admiral  Spratt  from  the  same  coal  formation,  f  It  is  remarkable 
that  this  species  (Glossopteris  sphenophyllum)  was  found  amongst 
such  a  truly  Carboniferous  flora  as  Lepidodendron,  Calamites,  Sphen- 
opJiyllum,  Neuropteris,  Sigillaria,  and  Sttgmaria,  thus  giving  an 
earlier  origin  to  net-veined  simple  Ferns  than  was  ever  previously 
claimed. 

In  a  monograph  of  the  Tertiary  Flora  of  Novale,  Messrs. 
Yisani  and  Massalongo  have  described  a  Glossopteris  (G.  apocyno- 
phyllum),  in  which  the  figure  and  diagnosis  well  coincide  with  the 
definition  of  Brongniart.|  This  is  the  latest  stratum  to  which  the 
genus  has  been  traced.  Dr.  Feistmantel  throws  a  doubt  on  the 
identification,  but  for  no  sufiicient  reason. 

The  fructification  of  some  species  is  known — all  Indian  fossils. 
It  consists  of  round  sori  in  longitudinal  rows  between  the  margin 
and  midrib,  which  would  indicate  a  relation  to  the  living  Poly- 
podium.  Mr.  Carruthers,  however,  says  that  with  regard  to  the 
Australian  species  he  thought  he  observed  certain  indications  of  a 
fructification  in  the  form  of  sori  running  along  the  vein  nearer 
the  margin  than  midrib.  Dr.  Feistmantel  thinks  that  this 
would  indicate  a  relation  to  Antrophyiim,  but  that,  I  may  observe, 
has  no  midrib,  and  the  veins,  though  reticulate,  are  uniform. 
However,  as  Dr.  F.  justly  remarks,  the  observation  of  Mr.  Car- 
ruthers is  of  the  utmost  importance,  as  it  indicates  that  Glossopteris 
hrowniana,  of  India,  and  the  fossil  which  bears  the  same  name  in 
Australia,    are  not   only  different   species,    hut  belong   to  entirely 


*  Versuch  einer  geognost.  Beschreibung  der  Gegend  zwischen  Amasry 
und  Tyrla-Asy,  1852. 

t  See  Spratt  and  Etheridge  on  the  coal-bearing  deposits  of  Erekli,  Q.  Jour. 
Geol.  Soc,  Lond.,  vol.  23  (1877),  p.  524. 

i  Mem.  d'Acad.  di  Torino.     3  Ser.,  vol.  17. 


122      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

diferent  genera.  In  the  case  of  G.  angustifolia,'^  there  is  a 
longitudinal  intramarginal  vein  indicating  a  fructification  like 
Pteris,  our  commonest  living  Fern.  The  fossil  is  not  known  in 
Australia. 

Twelve  species  and  a  variety  are  recorded  from  Australia,  and 
these  distinctions  depend  entirely  on  the  shape  of  the  leaf,  and  the 
mode  of  the  reticulation.  Such  distinction  would  not  be  specific 
in  living  ferns,  but  in  paleontological  botany  we  cannot  always 
have  well-marked  and  numerous  specific  features;  yet  in  proportion 
as  they  are  slight,  we  must  exercise  the  greatest  caution  in  recog- 
nizing such  forms  as  characteristic  of  different  horizons  or  localities. 

Glossopteris  hroivniana.  Brongniart  Prodromus  (p.  54  ;  Veg. 
Foss.,  p.  223,  t.  62  Morris  in  Strzelecki,  p.  247,  PI.  vi.,  fig.  1, 
la.  M'Coy ;  Ann.  Nat.  Hist.,  V^ol.  20,  p.  150.  Feist.  Ost.  Aust. 
Pal.  und  Mesoz.  Flora  p.  91,  PI.  viii,  figs.  3,  4.,  x.  1,  2,  5,  7.,  xi. 
fig.  1.)  Frond  simple,  spathulate,  or  oblong  lanceolate,  entire, 
attenuate  at  the  base  ;  costa  thick,  canaliculate,  gradually  con- 
tracting towards  the  apex,  veins  oblique,  anastomosing,  hexagonal 
near  the  rachis  and  elongate  near  the  edge.  Of  this  species  Morris 
makes  the  following  observations.  He  says  that  it  is  abundant  in 
the  coal  beds  of  Australia,  and  if  they  should  turn  out  to  be  coal 
measures  (paleozoic)  it  would  be  exceptional,  as  in  the  same  period 
in  England  and  America,  there  is  no  evidence  of  Ferns  with 
simple  fronds  and  reticulate  venation.  He  remarks  that  this 
species  forms  the  type  of  Brongniarts  genus  Glosso2yteris,  but  two 
other  species  were  referred  to  it  from  the  Oolite  series  of  Sweden 
and  England.  The  one  from  England,  G,  2^hillipsii,  while  agreeing 
with  G.  hrowniana  in  the  venation,  appears  not  to  have  been  a 
simple  frond,  but  digitate,  four  or  five  ^^irmulse  arising  in  a  fan 
like  form  from  a  common  rachis.  Goeppert  in  consequence  made 
it  form  one  of  the  sections  of  his  genus  Acrostichites,  but  it  was 
obviously  a  Sagenopteris. 


*  The  second   of   the   two  forms   originally   described  by   Brongniart. 
Hist.  1,  p.  227,  pi.  63,  fig.  1. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.   E.  TENISON-WOODS,   F.C4.S.,  F.L.S.  123 

The  young  or  smaller  pinnulse  of  G.  hrowniana  are  generally 
lanceolate,  the  larger  ones  more  spathulate  and  obtuse ;  the 
midrib  is  large  at  the  base  and  gradually  contracts  to  the  apex, 
the  veins  are  distinct,  parallel  near  the  base,  but  soon  after 
become  oblique  and  regularly  anastomose. 

Prof.  M'Coy  says  with  reference  to  the  same  species  (loc.  cit. 
p.  150)  "  I  think  I  recognise  both  the  Indian  and  Australian 
forms  of  this  species  (var.  A  and  B  of  Brongniart)  in  nearly 
equal  abundance  among  the  specimens  examined,  and  some  of  the 
fronds  are  of  a  size  far  exceeding  any  hitherto  published,  some  of 
them  being  six  inches  wide,  which  in  the  proportion  of  the  small 
perfect  examples  would  indicate  a  frond  of  more  than  two  feet  in 
length.  I  believe  I  have  ascertained  the  rhizome  of  this  species, 
which  is  furnished  with  ovate  clasping  (or  at  least  very  convex) 
subcarinate  scales,  having  a  divaricating,  reticulated  neuration, 
resembling  that  of  the  perfect  frond,  but  much  less  strongly 
marked.  These  scales  are  of  large  size,  some  of  them  being  nearly 
an  inch  in  length,  and  terminating  at  the  apex  in  along,  flat,  linear 
appendage  about  one  line  in  width,  which  occasionally  gives  off 
small  lateral,  flat,  membranaceous  branches,  nearly  at  right  angles, 
the  whole  perfectly  resembling,  except  in  size,  the  rhizomal  scales 
of  Acrosticerium,  Laromanes  and  Hymenodium,  as  figured  in 
Fee's  "  Memoire  sur  la  Fam.  des  Fougeres,"  and  when  combined 
with  great  similarity  in  form,  habit,  and  neuration,  would  warrant 
us  in  presuming  a  strong  affinity  between  these  genera." 

Glossopteris  linearis,  M'Coy,  loc.  cit.,  p.  151,  pi.  9,  flgs.  5,  5a. 
Leaves  very  long,  narrow,  with  nearly  parallel  sides,  costa  very 
large,  veins  fine,  forming  an  angle  of  about  50^  with  the  costa, 
anastomosing  occasionally  from  thence  to  the  margin.  Ohs. — *'  It 
is  only  with  the  G.  angustifolia,  Br.  from  the  Indian  coal  fields  of 
Eamiganj,  near  Hajmahal,  that  this  long  parallel-sided  frond  would 
be  confounded,  and  it  is  distinguished  easily  from  that  species  by 
the  fineness  of  the  neuration,  which  is  as  remarkably  delicate  as 
that  of  the  other  is  coarse.  The  neuration  of  G.  augustifolia,  is 
also  distinguished  by  its  great  obliquity,  forming  an  angle  of  about 
30  degrees  with  the  costa,  while  the  veining  of  the  present  species 


124      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLOKA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

is  not  more  oblique  than  that  of  G.  hrowniana  or  G.  milsoniana. 
In  this  species  also,  from  the  anastomosing  being  continued  up  to 
the  margin,  it  results  that  the  veins  are  little  closer  at  the  margin 
than  at  the  middle  of  the  leaf,  while  in  G.  augustifolia,  the 
anastomosing  is  continued  to  the  central  portion,  and  the  dichoto- 
mosing  goes  on  to  the  margin,  where  in  consequence  the  neuration 
is  finer  and  closer  than  towards  the  costa.  None  of  the  specimens 
are  perfect  at  the  extremities,  the  largest  being  three  inches  long 
and  seven  lines  wide  at  the  basal  fracture,  and  diminishing  about 
two  lines  in  that  length,  towards  the  distal  end,  being  about  eight 
lines  wide  in  the  middle.  Disconnected  fragments  show  that  the 
base  diminishes  insensibly  to  a  lengthened  petiole,  as  in 
G.  hrov^nianaj  and  that  the  apex  is  elliptical  and  pointed.  Very- 
abundant  in  the  grey  shale  at  Wollongong.  Not  uncommon  in 
the  hard  siliceous  schists  of  Arowa,  N.  S.  Wales."  Abundant  also 
in  Newcastle. 

Glossopteris  amjola  Dana  (I.e.  p.  717, pi.  13,  fig.  1,)  also  Feist.  (I.e. 
p.  91,  PI.  11,  fig.  2,  pi.  12,  17.) — Frond  very  large,  widely  ovate, 
entii-e,  undulating,  obtusely  acuminate,  costa  thick,  extending  to  the 
apex ;  veins,  extremely  fine  and  close,  leaving  long  narrow 
reticulations,  which  are  longest  towards  the  margin.  Locality — 
Newcastle,  Illawarra. 

Glossopteris  reticulata,  Dana  (I.e.  p.  717,  PL  13,  fig.  2,) — Frond 
large,  oblong-elliptical,  the  width  not  exceeding  a  third  part  of  the 
length,  gradually  attenuate  towards  the  apex ;  veins,  broadly 
reticulate  to  the  margin.  Locality — Newcastle.  This  is  a  rare 
form. 

Glossopteris  elongata.  Dana  (1.  c.  p.  717.)  Frondnarrowly  elongate, 
lanceolate,  attenuate  at  the  base  ;  costa  somewhat  thick,  distinct ; 
veins  neatly  reticulate.     Locality,  Newcastle. 

Glossopteris  cor  data.  Dana.  (I.e.,  p.  718.,  pi.  13,  fig.  5.)  Frond 
distinctly  cordate  towards  the  base,  lobes  rounded  ;  costa,  thick  ; 
veins  reversed  at  the  base,  diverging  from  the  costa,  neatly 
reticulate,  with  narrow  oblong  interspaces.     Locality,   Illawarra. 

All  the  above  four  species  of  Dana  are  considered  by  Feist- 
mantel  to  be  only  varieties. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.   E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  125 

Glossopteris  tceniopterioides.  Feist.  (1.  c,  p.  92,  pi.  9,  fig.  1,  la.) 
Frond  simple,  elegant  in  form,  oblong,  ovato-spathulate,  attenuate 
at  the  base,  costa,  valid,  striate  or  grooved.  Veins  emerging  at 
nearly  a  right  angle,  giving  at  first  sight  the  appearance  of  a 
Tcenwpteris.  Under  the  lens  the  venation  is  seen  to  form  an 
oblong,  narrow,  obliquely  acute  parallel  network  which  is  some- 
times indistinctly  polygonal.  The  costa  is  stiff  and  straight.  Only 
one  specimen  was  known  to  Dr.  Feistmantel,  which  came  from 
Blackman's  Swamp  coal  beds. 

Glossopteris  wilkinsoni,  Feist.  (1.  c,  92,  pi.  13,  fig.  1,  la.) 
Frond  extremely  narrow,  sub-parallel,  strap  shaped.  Costa 
distinct,  produced  at  the  apex  ;  veins  sub-horizontal,  dichotomous, 
anastomosing  usually  once  near  the  apex,  forming  an  oblong 
network,  with  a  few  smaller  meshes  towards  the  margin  of  the 
rachis.     Locality,  Blackman's  Swamp. 

Glossopteris  parallela.  Feist.  (1.  c,  p.  93,  pi.  9.  fig.  2,  3,  4.) 
Frond  very  long,  simple,  elongately  ovate,  apex  unknown,  costa 
distinct,  grooved  in  the  middle.  Veins  emerging  at  an  angle  of 
30  deg.  in  the  lower  portion  and  at  an  angle  of  20  deg.  in  the 
upper  portion  of  the  frond,  dichotomous,  parallel,  but  anastomosing, 
forming  a  distinct  oblong  polygonal  net,  which  is  narrower  towards 
the  margin. 

This  is  a  very  peculiar  and  characteristic  form,  says  the  author, 
not  only  from  the  form  of  the  leaf,  but  also  from  the  venation  and 
form  of  the  net-work  which  appears  as  if  it  were  parallel. 
Goppert  referred  a  form  of  this  kind  to  G.  hrowniana  var.  hiloba, 
which  Ettingshausen  considered  as  a  Polypodium,  and  named  P. 
goepperti. 

Glossopteris  elegans.  Feist.  (1.  c,  p.  155,  pi.  xxvi,  pi.  viii  2nd 
part — fig.  2,  2a). — Frond  of  medium  size,  oblong  spathulate,  with 
a  costa  which  becomes  merged  in  the  tissue  above ;  below  it  is 
formed  of  pairs  of  areolar  spaces,  which  are  oblong ;  above  these 
arp  similar  spaces,  but  shorter  and  somewhat  polygonal.  Veins 
arising  at  an  acute  angle  from  the  median  areolar  spaces,  dichoto- 
mous, anastomosing,  and  forming  an  oblong  network. 


126      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

There  is  no  Indian  or  Australian  form  which  resembles  this  in 
the  peculiar  character  of  the  midrib.  From  Greta,  N.S.  Wales, 
under  the  marine  paleozoic  beds. 

Glossopteris  2^vimceva.'FQ\^t.  (1.  c,  p.  79,  pi.  5,  fig.  3,  3a). — Frond 
spathulate,  costa  thick,  grooved  veins,  emerging  at  an  angle  of 
from  20  to  30  deg.,  parallel,  dichotomous,  anastomosing,  forming  a 
polygonal  network,  which  is  wider  and  shorter  near  the  rachis, 
narrower  and  longer  near  the  margin. 

Locality — Greta,  N.S.W.,  from  the  lower  coal.  It  is  also  known 
from  Damuda  in  India. 

Glossopteris  clai'kei.  Feist.  (1.  c,  79,  pi.  5,  fig.  4,  4a). — Leaves 
oblong  ovate,  obtusely  acuminate,  costa  distinct,  grooved  in  the 
middle.  Veins  parallel,  dichotomous,  free  for  the  greater  part  of 
the  leaf,  like  a  Tceniopteris  anastomosing  only  at  the  margin,  twice 
or  thrice  forming  a  rhombo-polygonal  network.  Locality — Under 
the  marine  beds,  Kix  Creek,  N.S.  Wales. 

Glossopteris  hrowniana,  var.  jjr'CBcursor. — Leaves  small,  long,  spa- 
thulate, costa  distinct,  fading  away  towards  the  apex  ;  veins 
emerging  at  an  acute  angle,  curved,  forked,  anastomosing,  forming 
a  sub-equal  elongate,  polygonal  network.  (Feistm.,  1.  c,  p.  79, 
pi.  5,  fig.  4-7.)  Under  the  first  marine  beds  of  Stoney  Creek, 
N.S.  Wales. 

Gangamopteris,  M'Coy. 

Frond  simple  or  impari-pinnate,  middle  pinuse  spathulate, 
symmetrical,  semi-elliptically  pointed  above,  gradually  tapering 
towards  the  base  ;  lateral  pinnse  variable,  very  acute,  tapering 
from  base  or  obliquely  ovate,  to  trigonal  or  flabelliform,  broad 
above,  gradually  narrowed  towards  the  oblique  adherent  base,  which 
is  never  auriculate,  but  moderately  wide  and  embracing,  no  costa, 
veins  coarsely  reticulate,  many  arising  from  the  base,  branching  as 
they  diverge  towards  the  margin,  and  frequently  anastomosing  to 
form  an  irregular  polygonal  network. 

This  genus  was  formed  by  Professor  M^Coy  in  the  Decades  of 
Paleont.  of  Vict.  (p.  11,  pi.  12  and  13),  the  name  being  derived 
from  yayyajiov,  a  small  round  net,  and  Trrepis  a  fern.     A  species 


BY    THE    REV.  J.  E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  127 

which  was  referred  doubtfully  to  Cyclopteris  by  the  Professor  in. 
1847  (See  Ann.  Nat.  Hist,  1.  c.)  from  the  Newcastle  beds  is  claimed 
for  this  genus,  described  with  some  from  Bacchus  Marsh  in 
Victoria  as  follows  : 

Gangamopteris  angustifolia,  M'Coy,  (Pal.  Vict.  loc.  cit.,  also 
Ann.  Nat.  Hist.,  loc.  cit.,  pi.  19,  fig.  3  and  3a).  Very  long,  narrow, 
unequal  sided,  very  gradually  tapering  towards  the  apex  from  the 
widest  portion  near  the  base,  base  slightly  contracted,  embracing 
and  obliquely  truncated,  length  often  nine  or  ten  inches,  width 
rarely  exceeding  one  inch. 

From  the  upper  coal  measures,  New  South  Wales,  and  the 
Bacchus  Marsh  sandstones,  Victoria,  where  it  is  common.  In  the 
Indian  Talchir  group  and  Kaharbari  beds. 

Gangamopteris  spathulata,  M'Ooy  (1.  c,  jd.  12,  pi.  13,  fig.  1,  1a). 
Spathulate,  symmetrical,  equal  sided,  semi-elliptical  ly  pointed 
above,  tapering  towards  the  base  to  a  slender  petiole,  length  4|- 
inches,  width  about  l^  to  2  inches.  This  is  the  rarest  of  the  three 
forms  in  the  Bacchus  Marsh  sandstones. 

Gangamopteris  ohliqua^  M'Coy  (1.  c,  p.  13,  pi,  12,  fig.  2,  3,  4,). 
Wide,  inequilateral,  oblique,  sub-trigonal,  widest  near  the  broadly 
rounded  distal  end,  gradually  tapering  towards  the  base,  which  is 
not  petiolate,  but  obliquely  truncated,  with  a  moderately  wide, 
sessile  base  of  attachment.  Length  commonly  about  four  or  five 
inches,  width  near  apex  about  three  and  a  half  inches,  width  near 
base,  commonly  about  nine  lines. 

"  This  is  the  most  variable  and  common  of  the  three  forms, 
abundant  in  the  sandstone  quarries  of  Bacchus  Marsh."  Both  the 
above  have  representatives  in  the  Indian  Talchir  divisions 
(Feistmantel),  and  they  are  found  at  Guntawang,  Mudgee,  New 
South  Wales. 

Gangamopteris  clarkeana^  Feist.  (1.  c,  p.  93,  pi.  15,  fig.  9).  Frond 
spathulately  rounded,  of  medium  size,  coriaceous,  entire,  symmetrical, 
rounded  above  but  greatly  attenuated  towards  the  base,  whence 
the  somewhat  thick  and  distant  veins  radiate,  forking  and  forming 
an  oblong  network. 


128      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

At  first  sight  this  resembles  M'Coy's  G.  spatulata,  but  on 
examination  the  nerves  are  seen  to  be  thicker  and  wider  apart. 
Locality,  Bowenfels,  New  South  Wales. 

Sagenopteris,  Presl. 

Frond  quadri-lobate  arising  from  a  terete  stipe,  lobes  free  to  the 
base,  articulate,  deciduous,  extremely  variable  even  in  the  same 
frond,  being  hastate,  cul triform,  rhomboidal,  oblong- lanceolate, 
and  unsymmetrical,  coriaceous,  thickened  at  the  articulation.  Costa 
immersed  in  the  tissue  at  the  base,  but  distinct  towards  the 
middle  :  veins  arising  at  an  acute  angle  but  diverging  in  ascend- 
ing, anastomosing,  forming  a  hexagonal  rhomboidal  network. 
Epidermis  unequally  rectangular  above,  polygonally  areolate  below, 
and  pierced  with  stomata. 

Schimper  regards  this  genus  as  an  approach  towards  the  Mar- 
siliacese,  even  though  the  stomata  exclude  it  from  tt "".  order.  The 
fern  has  no  living  analogue  and  stands  quite  alone  in  the  extinct 
cryptogamic  flora.  It  is  known  only  from  the  Lower  Lias  to  the 
Middle  Oolite  in  Europe,  and  all  Australian  specimens  are  from 
the  Upper  or  Mesozoic  coal  basins  of  Ipswich  Q.  L.,  and 
Jerusalem,  Tasmania. 

Sagenopteris  rhoifolia.  Presl.  in  Sternberg.  (Flora,  d.  Vorw., 
11.,  p.  165,  tab.  xxxv.,  tig.  1.  Schimper,  vol.  1,  p.  640,  Tab.  xliv., 
fig.  2-8  ;  Feist,  op.  cit.  pi.  xii.,  a.,  figs.  1-4-7.  Frond  very  variable 
both  as  to  the  shape  and  size.  Pinnae  narrow  at  the  base, 
articulate,  spathulate,  obovate,  or  oblong  acuminate,  rarely  oblong 
lanceolate  or  sub-rotundate,  inequilateral,  very  rarely  sub-symme- 
trical, the  middle  leaves  larger  than  the  lateral  ones,  and  quite 
entire.  Ordinary  length  about  32  mill.,  with  a  diameter  of 
16  mill.  The  internal  margins  of  the  lateral  fronds  somewhat 
expanded,  furnished  here  and  therf*  with  a  broad  indistinct 
dental  lobe. 

This  fern  is  identical  with  Goeppert's  AcrosticJiites,  Brongniart's 
Glossopteris  elongata,  nilssoniana,  and  Fhyllo'pteris  nilssoniana  as 
also  Milnster's  Glossopteris  latifoUa,  ita,  Schimper.  It  occurs  in 
the  argillaceous   schists   of   Bayreuth,  Kulmbach,   and    Bamberg, 


BY    THE    REV.  J,   E.   TEXISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  129 

which  are  Ehaitic.  Also  in  the  lower  Lias  with  Ammonites  angu- 
latus  near  Coburg,  Ac.  It  is  a  fern  of  almost  infinite  variability, 
as  no  two  specimens  are  found  to  correspond  in  the  shape  or 
dimensions  of  the  leaves.  Schenck,  in  his  classical  work  on  the  fossil 
plants  of  the  beds  intervening  between  the  Ken  per  and  the  Lias, 
gives  numerous  details  on  this  interesting  plant  and  proves  by  a 
multitude  of  examples  from  all  the  known  localities  where  it 
occurs,  that  there  is  but  one  species.  Tlie  most  extreme  forms 
graduate  insensibly  from  one  to  another.  So  far,  it  had  only  been 
found  in  one  place  in  Australia,  but  I  found  some  fine  specimens 
on  the  Darling  Downs,  near  Toowoomba,  associated  with  a  peculiar 
coal  flora.     They  are  figured  on  pi.  9,  fig.  4. 

Sagenopteris  tasmanica.  Feistmantel  (1.  c,  p.  ill,  pi.  15,  fig.  10). 
— Frond  compound  digitate  (I),  with  linear  lobes  attenuate  at  the 
apex  ;  costa  distinct  and  rounded,  veins  emerging  at  an  acute  angle, 
forked,  and  once  (so  it  seems  in  the  fragments)  anastomosing. 

This  somewhat  doubtful  species  has  a  resemblance  to  S.  pJiillipsi, 
Lindley  and  Hutton,  of  the  English  Oolite,  Jerusalem  basin, 
Tasmania. 

Gleicheniace^. 

Sori  subrotund,  disposed  in  the  under  side  of  the  leaflets,  often 
radiate,  in  series  or  immersed  in  a  hemispherical  pit,  3  or  6 
capsular  on  the  dorsal  surface  or  apex  of  the  veins,  or  placed  in  a 
minute  raised  punctiform  receptacle.  Capsules  sessile,  with 
an  oblique  excentric  ring,  splitting  longitudinally.  Spores, 
spherically  tetrahedral.  Fronds  dichotomous,  rarely  simple, 
pinnate,  smooth,  pilose,  or  with  a  colored  powder. 

Gleichenia,  Swartz. 
Veins  pinnate,  simple  or  rarely  dichotomous,  ending  in  an  obtuse 
apex.     Capsules  (where  there  are  four)  decussately  disposed,  sessile, 
coherent,    immersed.      Frond    dichotomous,  branches   bi-pinnate, 
pinnules  small,  coriaceous. 

Living  species  inhabiting  Australia  and  the  Cape.  They  are  found 
fossil  in  the   Oolite  and   Cretaceous  beds   in  India  and  Europe. 
G.  hindrabunensis  of  India,  is  extremely  common  in  the  Oolitic 
I 


130      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

formation  of  Bindrabun  (Rajmahal).  It  is  very  like  our  common 
G.  dicarpa,  but  appears  to  have  been  regularly  tri-pinnate,  instead 
of  dicliotomous. 

Gleichenia  duhia,  Feist.  (I.e.  p.  106,  pL  15,  fig.  8.; — Frond 
dicliotomous,  pinnate,  rachis  moderate  in  size,  terete,  pinnae 
remote,  alternate,  obcvate-elongate,  inciso-lobate,  nerves  indistinct. 
Dr.  Feistmantel  only  states  Wianamatta  beds  as  the  locality, 
which  makes  the  horizon  doubtful  for  the  reasons  I  have  given. 

Gleichenia  lineata  n.s.  Plate  3,  tig.  6,  pi.  8,  fig.  2. — Frond  small, 
coriaceous,  with  a  strong  thick  rachis,  dichotomously  divided,  pinnate, 
bi-pinnate.  Pinnules  entire,  linear,  attached  by  almost  the  whole 
of  the  base,  but  slightly  contracted  at  the  lower  portion,  somewhat 
distant,  not  decurrent.  Upper  edge,  convex,  lower,  slightly 
concave,  but  in  a  few  pinnules  divided  into  deep  rounded  lobes,* 
apex  acute,  emerging  from  the  rachis  at  an  angle  of  about  35 
degrees  ;  veins  not  prominent,  costa  not  forking  and  quite 
persistent  to  the  apex  ;  veins  not  very  visible  in  any  of  the 
specimens^  but  apparently  grouped  and  numerous,  emerging  at  an 
acute  angle  and  bifurcating.  Theie  appear  to  be  two  venules 
emerging  at  the  very  base  of  the  pinnule.  Kachis  conspicuously 
marked  with  a  single  deep  dark  median  groove. 

Rosewood  scrub,  near  Ipswich,  Queensland,  where  it  is  abun- 
dant, but  preserved  in  a  red  ferruginous  oxide  in  purj^le  slate, 
whence  the  venation  is  difficult  to  trace.  In  consequence  of  the 
indistinctness  of  the  nerves  I  regard  this  only  provisionally  as  a 
Gleichenia  very  closely  allied  to  the  common  G.  flahellata,  R.  Br., 
which  is  found  on  the  east  coast  of  Australia,  from  Cape  York, 
on  the  extreme  north,  to  Tasmania,  in  moist  shady  places.  I  am 
unable  to  point  out  any  well-defined  mark  by  which  this  fossil 
could  be  distinguished  from  the  living  species  named,  but  as  yet 
the  venation  is  obscure. 


*  But  this  may  be  a  monstrosity,  as  it  is  seen  on  a  few  pinnse  of  only  one 
specimen. 


IJY    THE    REV.  J.  E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  131 

Ord.  Ophioglossace^. 

Herbaceous  Ferns.  Fronds  springing  from  a  subterraneous 
rhizome,  erect,  biform,  binate.  Sporangia  sessile,  unilocular  or 
sub-bilocular,  exannulate,  coriaceous,  united  to  each  other  and 
bivalvate. 

In  this  order,  but  amongst  the  plants  about  whose  true  position 
there  is  much  uncertainty,  Schimper  places  the  following  genus. 

Jeanpaulia.     linger. 

Fronds  coriaceous,  arising  from  a  cplindrical  stem,  flabelli- 
form,  segments,  which  are  linear,  forking  repeatedly,  entire,  more 
or  less  elongate.  Veins  numerous  rather  prominent,  equal, 
parallel,  dichotomous  with  the  divisions  cf  the  frond.  Superior 
epidermis  formed  of  elongate  rectangular  or  oblique  cells. 
Lower  side  of  hexagonal  cells  with  an  undulating  margin,  and 
numerous  stomata.     Fruit  ovate-pisiform. 

These  plants  have  been  placed  by  Braun,  linger  and  Brongniart 
amongst  the  Rhizocarps  near  Marsiliacese.  By  Sclienk  they  were 
classed  as  Ferns  by  the  side  of  Baiera  and  Hausmannia.  Lindley 
and  Hutton  doubtfully  placed  them  among  Algpe,  adding  :— ''  We 
place  it  aiQongst  Solenites  rather  more  for  the  sake  of  giving  the 
plant  a  station  and  a  name,  than  because  we  have  any  reason  for 
considering  it  of  the  same  nature,  further  than  its  similarity  of 
appearance. "'^'  Schimper  adds  that  having  collected  abundance  of 
specimens  from  a  schistose  sandstone,  with  plenty  of  what  he 
considered  to  be  the  fruits,  he  was  able  to  identify  them  with 
certain  fossils  of  a  similar  nature  from  the  Oolitic  beds  of  Whitby. 

There  are  two  species  described,  one  from  the  Bhsetic  beds  of 
Europe  near  Bayreuth,  Bamberg,  Erlangen  and  Schnaitach  and 
Forchheim,  in  Franconia.  The  other  (which  has  much  narrower 
segments)  from  the  Oolite  of  Scarborough.  Schimper  thinks  that 
Sjyhenojyteris  longifo/ia,  Phillipsf  is  the  same  species  as  that  found 
in  Franconia,  Jeanpaulia  milnsteriana. 

*  Fossil  Flora.  Vol.  3,  plate  and  page  209. 
+  Geology  of  Vorkshire,  plate  7,  tig.  17. 


132      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

Jeanpaulia  hidens  n.  s.  Plate  4,  fig.  3.  Frond  broadly 
flabellate,  segments  somewhat  short,  often  becoming  broader 
towards  the  apex  and  ending  in  a  short  wide  bifurcation,  or  in  a 
curved  falcate,  acute  or  acuminate  point.  Veins  not  conspicuous, 
numerous  (6  to  10)  parallel,  not  branching.  The  longest  of  the 
segments  in  the  specimen  figured  is  55  millim,,  and  the  width  is 
from  3  to  6  millim. 

The  resemblance  of  the  form  of  this  fossil  to  some  species  of 
of  Hehninthostachys  is  great,  but  the  parallel  venation  reminds 
one  more  of  Schizcea.  Probably  we  have  nothing  amongst  living 
Ferns  which  can  be  compared  to  this  singular  plant.  The  species 
described  differs  from  J.  milnsteriana  in  the  brevity,  widening  and 
bifurcation  of  the  segments.  The  specimen  figured  was  found  in 
the  Burnett  Tliver  coal  seams,  Queensland. 

Fragments  of  Ferns. 

Paleontological  botanists  divide  the  fragments  of  Ferns  into  four 
sections,  viz,  : — 1.  Spiropterides,  or  young  fronds  either  rolled  up 
or  not  as  yet  completely  devoloped.  2.  Uachiopterides. — Fragments 
of  petioles  or  of  rachis.  3.  PTithoropterides. — Petioles  of  ferns 
generally  contained  amongst,  or  in  an  envelope  of  adventitious 
roots.     4.  Stems  of  Ferns.     In  the  last  section  we  have  :  — 

Caulopteris,  Lindley  and  Hutton. 

Trunk  erect,  cylindrical.  Scars  of  the  petioles  flat,  elliptical  or 
ovate.  Cicatrices  of  the  vascular  bundles,  round,  concentrically 
disposed,  or  borne  in  longitudinal  impressions.  These  stems  or 
trunks,  says  Schimper,  have  their  analogues  amongst  the  tree  ferns 
of  the  present  period,  such  as  Cyathea  and  Alsophila. 

Caulopteris  adamsi.  Feistmantel,  loc.  cit.  p.  94,  pi.  12,  figs.  1 
and  2.  Trunk  of  a  tree  of  medium  size,  marked  on  the  surface 
with  the  scars  of  branches  or  leaves.  Scars  disposed  spirally  and 
quincuncially,  transversely  oblong-oval,  somewhat  prominent,  the 
sides  marked  with  a  decurrent  line,  the  internal  surface  covered 
with  minute  vascular  cicatrices. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.  E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  133 

This  species  was  dedicated  to  Mr.  P.  F.  Adams,  Surveyor- 
General  of  N.  S.  Wales.  The  specimens  were  imperfect,  and  on 
the  whole  the  peculiarities  of  the  species  were  such  that  Dr. 
Feistmantel  was  far  from  satisfied  that  it  should  be  referred  to  the 
genus  Caulopteris,  yet  as  the  details  were  too  indistinct  and  scanty 
for  the  erection  of  any  new  genus ^  he  knew  no  existing  form  with 
which  it  could  be  classed,  except  the  one  to  which  he  referred  it. 
It  was  found  in  Newcastle,  but  there  are  no  particulars  as  to  the 
mine  or  the  horizon. 

Order.     Lycopodiace^. 

Stem  or  rhizome  bearing  true  leaves,  either  linear,  or  small  and 
one-nerved,  or  reduced  to  minute  scales.  Spore-cases  solitary  or  few 
together,  sessile  in  the  axils  of  the  leaves  or  of  the  bracts  of  a  ter- 
minal spike,  either  all  similar  or  of  two  kinds,  larger  ones  macro, 
sporangia,  containing  a  few  larger  spores  or  macrospores,  and  smaller 
micro-sporangia,  containing  numerous  smaller,  often  miscroscopic 
microspores,  the  differences  now  generally  admitted  to  be  sexual. 

The  order,  as  far  as  existing  species  are  concerned,  is  spread  over 
nearly  the  whole  globe,  and  three  of  the  Australian  genera  have 
nearly  as  wide  a  range  ;  two  others  are  both  in  the  New  and  the 
Old  World,  chiefly  tropical  or  southern  ;  the  remaining  two  extend 
to  N.  Zealand,  one  of  them  also  being  in  the  Pacific  Islands.  I 
need  not  refer  to  the  wonderfully  important  part  taken  by  this 
order  in  former  periods  of  the  earth's  history,  especially  in  the 
earliest  Carboniferous  flora.  Not  only  did  this  Order  predominate 
but  also  its  members  assumed  the  proportions  of  large  trees  and 
formed  immense  forests,  which  are  now  entombed,  and  preserved 
for  man  in  the  form  of  coal.  Australia  has  been  no  exception  to 
this,  though  the  fossil  species  that  we  have  are  found  more  in 
connection  with  the  Devonian  rocks  than  with  coal. 

Lepidodendron.     Sternberg. 
Large  trees  with  dichotomous  branches,  surface  closely  covered 
with    alternately    arranged,    rhombic    scars,     having     a    vascular 
cicatrix  near  the  middle  or  upper  angle.      Leaves  linear  or  peltate, 
fruit  a  strobilus  or  cone  at  the  extremity  of  certain  branches. 


134      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

Sub-genus  —  Bergeria,  Presl.  Scars  nearly  flat,  obovate, 
rbombic  or  quadrate  with  a  very  small  oval  vascular  cicatrix  near 
the  upper  angle. 

This  genus  belongs  to  the  Paleozoic  rocks,  and  various  por- 
tions of  the  same  plant  have  been  formed  into  Stigmaria 
(roots),  Lepidostrohus  (cones  or  fruit  spikes),  Sigillaria  (fluted 
trunks  of  some  species).  Cyperites  (foliage),  Knorria  (casts  of 
stems),  Sternbergia  (pith)  and  other  genera. 

Lepidodendron  (Bergeria)  australe,  M'Coy,  Pal.  of  Yict,  p.  37, 
pi.  ix).  Stem  about  two  inches  in  diameter,  having  rhombic  scars, 
with  straight  thick  boundaries,  about  four  inches  long  and  three 
and  a  half  inches  wide,  with  a  very  small  oval,  rounded,  vascular 
cicatrix,  rarely  near  the  middle,  or  more  usually  excentric  towards 
the  upper  angle,  and  often  connected  with  the  appearance  of  a 
vertical  shallow  rounded  sulcus  ;  branches  one  inch  in  diameter, 
having  similar  scars  three  lines  long,  and  two  and  a  half  lines  wide, 
upper  and  lower  angles  of  the  scars  usually  slightly  more  acute 
than  the  lateral  ones,  very  rarely  the  lateral  ones  more  acute. 

"  The  species  here  figured  is  scarcely  distinguishable  from  the 
L.  tetragonum,  Sternberg,  of  the  European  Carboniferous  deposits 
by  any  definable  character,  so  that  my  inclination  was  to  indicate 
it  as  variety  australe  of  that  species,  and  I  do  not  see  any  reason 
for  supposing  it  referable  to  the  little  Devonian  L.  nothum,  linger, 
nor  the  probably  identical  L.  gasjnanum,  Dawson,  nor  the  L. 
chemungense  of  Hall,  from  th3  Devonian  sandstones  of  New  York. 
Hall's  figure  of  the  latter  plant  is  not  much  less  than  the  narrow- 
part  of  the  right  hand  branch  of  our  figure,  but  it  shows  the  scars 
nearly  five  times  more  numerous,  and  scarcely  one-fifth  of  the  size 
and  all  the  figures  of  the  Devonian  species  mentioned  indicate  the 
much  smaller,  more  numerous,  and  much  more  acute,  longitudinally 
elongate  leaf  scars  as  constant  characters,  together  with  a  central 
vascular  cicatrix."  Common  in  the  red  and  yellow  micaceous 
carboniferous  sandstone  of  the  Avon  River,  Gippsland.  This 
sandstone  rests  unconformably  on  the  upturned  edges  of  true 
Devonian    rocks    with    characteristic    fossils.       Professor    M'Coy 


BY    THE    REV.  J.   E.   TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,   F.L.S.  135 

thinks  that  his  species  is  identical  with  the  Queensland  Lepidoden- 
dron,  recognized  by  Carruthers  as  L.  nothum,  linger,  but  Dr. 
Feistmantel  and  others  think  that  they  are  different. 

Lepidodendron  7iothum,  Unger  (see  Carr.  in  Jour.  Geol.  Soc, 
1872,  p.  350,  pi.  26,  fig.  1  to  14,  also  Feistmantel,  pi.  15,  fig.  9). 
Scars  of  the  leaf  contiguous,  rhombic,  with  a  single  and  generally 
central  vascular  scar ;  leaves  small,  peltate  and  imbricate,  on 
long  slender  petioles,  fruit  produced  on  the  apices  of  the  thick 
branches,  a  single  sporangium,  almost  sessile,  borne  on  the  middle 
of  the  petiole  of  the  leaf,  roots  stigmarioid. 

In  the  paper  of  Mr.  Carruthers  referred  to,  full  details  as  to  the 
structure  of  this  plant  are  given  from  abundant  specimens  brought 
by  Mr.  Daintree  from  Queensland.  There  it  is  so  common  that  a 
full  series  of  specimens  are  easily  found,  giving  a  knowledge  of 
the  roots,  leaves,  and  fruit  scales  of  this  species.  Thus  many 
doubtful  points  in  the  structure  were  cleared  up.  Mr.  Carruthers 
believes  it  to  be  identical  with  Dr.  Dawson's  Leptophlceum  rhombi- 
cum,  and  thus  the  species  has  a  range  all  over  the  world.  In 
Queensland,  Mr.  Daintree  obtained  it  from  Mt.  Wyatt,  Canoona, 
and  the  Broken  River,  all  in  Northern  Queensland.  Prof.  M'Coy 
quotes  it  from  G-ympie,  probably  misunderstanding  the  report  of 
Daintree.  I  have  not  been  able  to  find  it  in  the  rocks  of  Gympie, 
where,  however,  there  are  many  plant  remains,  which  seem  to  be 
like  Cordaites  australis,  M'Coy.  It  was  found  on  the  Drummond 
Range,  at  the  end  of  the  central  railway.  (Bobuntungen,  Med- 
way  River,  &c.)  It  is  in  a  light  brown  or  yellow  micaceous  sand 
stone,  forming  the  escarpments  of  all  the  eastern  face  of  the  range, 
and  dipping  away  to  the  westward.  The  strata  show  much  false 
bedding,  and  oblique  laminae  like  the  aerial  rocks  of  the 
Hawkesbury.  Also  in  many  places  in  N.S.  Wales  in  (presumably) 
Devonian  rocks,  as  at  Cowra,  Canowindra,  on  the  Lachlan  River ; 
Goonoo  Goonoo  Creek,  on  the  Liverpool  Plains. 

4.  Lepidodendron  veltheimianum.  Sternberg.  Flor.  d.  vol  1, 
part  12,  pi.  52,  fig.  2.  See  also  Schimper,  "  Paleontologie  Yege- 
tale,  vol.  ii,  p.  29,  atlas,  pi.  59,  figs.  6,  7,  8.  Schimper  gives  a  large 
list  of  references  and  synonyms,  which  I  need  not  quote  here.     See 


136      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

also  Feistmantel,  "  Paleozoisclie  and  Mesozoische  Flora  des  ost- 
lichen  Australiens  " — Cassel,  1878  and  1879,  p.  151,  pi.  5,  figs.  2 
and  3  (though  doubtfully  referred  to  this  species)  ;  pi.  7,  fig.  2  ; 
pi.  23,  figs.  2  and  3. 

Apparently  a  moderate-sized  tree,  with  dichotomous  branches, 
covered  with  a  network  of  very  narrow  leaf  scars  ;  leaves  narrowly 
lanceolate,  spreading,  slightly  incurved  ;  scars  of  the  branches 
erect,  rhomboid,  close,  with  an  obovate  cushion  acuminate  at  the 
base,  keeled,  furnished  with  a  transverse  rhomboid  cicatrix ;  scars 
of  the  trunk  oblong  rhomboid,  apex  and  base  long  and  acuminate, 
subinfiexed,  and  after  the  disappearance  of  the  little  cushion, 
fusiform. 

This  plant  is  characteristic  in  Europe  of  the  lower  coal  forma- 
tions, corresponding  to  the  Carboniferous  Limestone.  It  has  been 
found  in  many  places  in  Silesia,  in  the  Posidonomya  schists  at 
Magdeburg,  in  the  Hartz  Mountains,  at  Nassau,  in  the  valleys  of 
Thann  and  Niederburdach  ;  in  France,  in  the  Upper  Vosges,  and 
in  the  coals  of  the  black  forest.  This  fossil  is  also,  according  to 
M.  Geinitz,  the  same  as  Ulodendron  ornatissimum. 

In  the  3rd  edition  of  the  late  Rev.  W.  B.  Clarke's  "  Sedimentary 
Formations  of  New  South  Wales"  (1875),  at  p.  17,  mention  is 
made  of  a  species  named  Lepidodendron  rimosum,  of  which  in 
1878  Feistmantel,  gave  a  fig.  (he.  cit.),  remarking  that  it  seemed 
more  to  resemble  L.  veltheiTniaimm.  Before  this,  1876,  as  I  have 
stated  previously,  Professor  de  Koninck  had  submitted  about 
twenty  plant  specimens  sent  to  him  by  the  Kev.  W.  B.  Clarke  to 
the  eminent  Belgian  paleontologist,  M.  Crepin  of  the  Brussels 
Museum.  Though  the  specimens  were  in  a  very  bad  state  of 
l^reservation,  he  was  able  to  recognize  L.  veltheimianum,  besides 
Calamites  radiatus  and  C.  varians,  all  of  which  we  shall  see  are 
found  in  the  Drummond  Range.  Dr.  Feistmantel  was  not  aware 
of  Mons.  Crepin's  determinations  at  the  time  he  pronounced  upon 
his  specimens,  so  that  the  independent  testimony  of  two  such 
eminent  and  experienced  authorities  gives  additional  weight  to  the 
identification.  Mr.  Clarke's  fossils  are  quoted  by  De  Koninck  as 
from    the    quarries    of   Murree,    Russell's    Shaft,    Glen    William, 


BY    THE    REV.  J.   E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  137 

Burragood,  and  the  Ichthyodorulite  Range.  Dr.  Feistmantel's 
examples  came  from  the  strata  of  Smith's  Creek,  near- Stroud  and 
the  Rouchel  River. 

Amongst  the  numerous  examples  found  in  the  Drummond 
Range,  there  are  many  compressed  branches  which  have  formerly 
been  cylindrical,  and  instead  of  having  the  lozenge-shaped  depressed 
leaf-scars  with  a  raised  margin,  are  marked  with  impressions  of 
distant  narrow-pointed  leaf-like  scales.  They  exactly  correspond 
with  the  figure  given  by  Feistmantel  in  the  above  work,  at  plate  23, 
figs  2  and  3,  and  which  are  lettered  Knorriastadium  {f)  and  Lejndo- 
dendron  veltheimiammi  f?),  the  doubtful  note  in  both  cases  being 
that  of  Dr.  F.  They  came  from  Smith's  Creek,  New  South  Wales. 
I  think  there  can  be  but  little  doubt,  from  the  mode  in  which  they 
are  associated,  that  they  belong  to  the  same  plant.  There  are  also 
smaller  stems,  of  which  I  figure  one  examj)le  which  seems  to  me 
like  the  internal  casts  of  the  smaller  branchlets.  The  surface  is 
covered  with  raised  cushions,  which  are  closely  quincunciah  The 
cushions  rise  gradually  towards  the  apex,  and  have  an  imbricated 
appearance.  In  the  larger  examples  the  cushions  are  longer  and 
very  much  narrowed.  I  think  we  have  in  these,  internal  casts  of 
the  branches.  If  we  suppose  the  external  scars  to  be  raised  in 
such  a  way  as  to  give  rise  to  a  corresponding  depression  in  the 
internal  cylinder,  then  the  casts  would  present  the  appearance 
noticed  above.  Moreover,  they  are  ill-defined,  and  without  any 
leaf  impressions,  just  as  internal  depressions  would  be.  The  stone 
is  quite  fine  enough  to  retain  the  most  delicate  marks  where  they 
exist.  The  shape  of  these  casts  also  confirms  this  explanation,  for 
they  are  always  more  or  less  cylindrical,  or  the  casts  of  cylinders 
which  have  been  compressed.  Whenever  the  exterior  of  the 
branches  is  exhibited,  it  is  on  the  surface  of  concave  casts. 

Cyclostigma.      Haughton. 

The  plants  thus  distinguished  were  first  brought  to  the  notice 
of  science  by  Dr.  Haughton,  in  a  paper  published  in  the  Annals 
of  Nat.    History    for  1860   (3rd    ser.,   vol.   v.,    p.    444),   entitled 


138      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

"  On  Cyclostigma  :  a  new  genus  of  fossil  plants  from  the  old  red 
sandstone  of  Kiltorkan."* 

CyclostigTiia  australe.  Feistmantel,  loc.  cit.  p.  76.  A  tree  trunk 
with  slender  terete  branches,  cushions  or  raised  scars  subglobose, 
pitted,  approximate,  spirally  disposed,  impressions  oblong  oval, 
rather  deep,  situate  in  the  upper  portion  of  the  oblong  ovate 
tubercle.  The  species  was  found  in  two  places  in  New  South 
Wales,  according  to  Dr.  Feistmantel,  named  Goonoo  Goonoo  Creek, 
near  Tarn  worth,  and  at  Smith's  Creek.  Dr.  Feistmantel  was  of 
opinion  that  the  species  was  so  near  C.  kiltorkense  that  he  could 
see  little  difference,  but  lest  he  should  make  a  false  identification 
in  a  plant  where  the  details  are  so  few  and  simple,  he  preferred  to 
give  it  another  name.  He  gives  figures  of  a  few  specimens  at  pi. 
i,  fig.  6,  a  doubtful  identification,  pi.  iv.,  fig.  3,  pi.  v,  fig,  1,  pi. 
xxii,  fig.  1.  Amongst  the  Drummond  Kange  specimens  I  have 
only  one  which  can  be  referred  with  any  probability  to  this  species, 
and  in  this  case  the  impressions  are  so  faint  and  worn  that  I 
figuied  it  as  a  Stigmaria  {flyclostigma  ?).  I  quote  from  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Haughton's  paper  somewhat  fully,  because  his  description 
corresponds  so  well  wdth  the  strata  of  the  Drummond  Range  that 
lithologically  they  may  certainly  be  said  to  belong  to  one  forma- 
tion. The  rose  pink  sandstone  in  which  some  of  the  fossils  are 
embedded,  and  the  golden  yellow  colour  of  others,  is  especially 
remarkable. 

"  The  fossil  plants  of  the  yellow  sandstone  of  the  county 
Kilkenny  occur,  as  they  do  in  other  parts  of  Ireland,  in  the 
sandstone  lying  immediately  under  the  great  mass  of  the  Car- 
boniferous limestone,  which  constitutes  the  most  important  member 
of  our  Irish  fossiliferous  rocks.  They  are  found  at  Jerpoint, 
about  a  mile  and  a  half  south  of  the  Abbey,  on  the  roadside  near 
the  cornmill,  on  the  road  to   Ballyhale,  about   90  feet  below  the 

*  Other  species  have  since  been  described  by  Heer,  Fossil  Flora  de  Bur- 
ren-Insel,  p.  43,  pi.  xi ;  by  Lesquereux,  Geol.  Survey  of  Arkansas,  p,  318, 
pi.  iii,  fig.  o  ;  and  Dawson,  Fossil  Plants,  Geol.  Survey  of  Canada,  p.  43,  pi. 
xiii,  figs.  92  to  96. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.   E.  TENISON-WOODS,   F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  139 

lowest  bed  of  limestone,  in  rocks  composed  of  red,  wliite,  and  blue 
limestone,  with  triboliths  formed  of  pink  quartz,  rounded  pebbles 
grooving  the  hone  stone  ;  and  above  the  plant  beds  a  remarkable 
white  grit  conglomerate  is  found.  The  plant-beds,  on  the  same 
geological  horizon,  are  also  found  in  the  railway  cuttings  at  Bally- 
hale.  They  are  found,  however-,  in  the  greatest  abundance,  and  in 
the  best  state  of  preservation,  on  the  top  of  Kiltorkan  Hill,  near 
the  railway  station  of  Ballyhale.  I  believe  the  plant-beds  on  the 
summit  of  this  to  form  an  'outlier,'  and  to  occupy  the  same 
geological  position  with  respect  to  the  limestone  as  the  beds  at 
Jerpoint  and  those  of  the  railway  cutting.  The  fossil  plants  here 
found  have  never  been  described  except  casually.  They  consist  of 
remains  of  a  large  Fern,  called  Cyclopte7'is  hihernica,  by  Professor 
Forbes,  associated  with  a  large  bivalve,  named  by  him  Anodon 
jukesii ;  of  undescribed  dermal  plates  of  a  cartilaginous  fish,  pro- 
bably a  species  of  Coccosteus  ;  and  of  numerous  unknown  plants 
closely  allied  to  Lepidodendron,  and  so  named  by  Professor  Forbes 
and  M.  Brongniart,  the  latter  of  whom  has  named  a  remarkable 
species,  preserved  in  the  Museum  of  the  Royal  Dublin  Society, 
Lepidodendron  griffithsii.  Others  of  these  fossil  plants  have  been 
named  Knorria  ;  and  a  large  undescribed  group  remains,  to  which 
I  propose  to  give  the  name  of  Cyclostigma." 

Mr.  Carruthers,  in  his  appendix  on  the  fossil  plants  (see  Dain- 
tree  on  the  Geology  of  Queensland,  loc.  cit.),  says  : — "  Among  the 
Devonian  fossils  presented  by  the  Kev.  W.  B.  Clarke  to  the 
Society's  museum  there  is  a  fragment  ot  a  lepidodendroid  plant 
which  I  cannot  separate  from  that  found  at  Kiltorkan,  to  which 
Dr.  Haughton  gave  the  name  of  Sigillaria  dichotoma,  and  after- 
wards of  Cyclostigma  kiltorkense,  and  which,  after  receiving  many 
other  aliases,  should  be  named,  I  believe,  Syringodendron  dicho- 
tomum,  as  being  a  species  of  that  genus  as  amended  by  Brongniart 
in  his  '  Histoire,'  and  again  in  his  '  Tableau.'  " 

In  the  Nat.  His.  Review,  vol.  6  (1859),  there  are  four  plates 
(pi.  38,  39,  40,  41),  giving  different  details  of  the  Cyclostig7na, 
showing  the  whorled  and  spiral  structure  of  the  leaves,  &c. 


140    on  the  fossil  flora  of  the  coal  deposits  of  australia, 
Lycopodium. 

Stems  leafy,  hai'd,  branching,  creeping,  prostrate  or  erect. 
Leaves  small,  entire,  or  minutely  serrate,  inserted  all  round  the 
stem,  usually  in  four  rows.  Spore-cases  all  of  one  kind,  flattened, 
one-celled,  two-valved,  sessile  in  the  axils  of  the  upper  leaves,  or 
of  bracts  usually  smaller  or  broader  than  the  stem  leaves,  and 
forming  terminal  or  lateral  spikes.  Spores  all  minute  and 
powdery. 

The  genus  is  widely  spread  over  every  part  of  the  globe.  Of  the 
eleven  Australian  species  three  are  generally  distributed  in  the 
New  and  in  the  Old  World,  the  seven  others  are  in  New  Zealand, 
five  of  them  extending  to  the  Pacific  Islands,  and  two  to  South 
America. 

There  are  seven  fossil  species,  and  if  we  include  the  Lycoj^odites, 
which  are,  however,  plants  of  uncertain  position,  three  more  must 
be  added  to  the  list.  Of  the  seven  fossil  species,  six  belong  to  the 
coal  formation,  and  the  seventh,  about  which  there  is  some  doubt, 
comes  from  the  middle  J\irassic.  Amongst  living  Lycopodiaceae  a 
distinction  is  made  between  those  which  have  the  spore  cases  and 
spores  all  of  one  kind  {Lycopodium)  and  those  in  which  they  are 
of  two  kinds  (Selaginella).  The  plants  of  the  latter  genus  are 
moreover  smaller  and  weaker  than  Lycopodium,  and  have 
distichous  lanceolate  leaves. 

With  reference  to  the  fossil  species  of  Lycopodium,  Schimper 
says  (op.  cit.  vol.  2,  p.  7)  that  under  the  name  of  Lycopodites,  and 
Selaginites  the  most  heterogeneous  plants  have  been  described,  such 
as  the  branches  of  Knorria,  Lejndodendra,  conifers  and  the  rhizo- 
mes of  young  fronds  of  Ferns.  For  this  there  is  an  excuse  as  some 
of  the  rhizomes  of  Ferns  which  grow  above  ground  are  divided  by 
dichotomy,  and  covered  with  leaf-like  hairs  or  scales,  and  they 
resemble  certain  si^ecies  of  Lycopodium,  especially  when  they  are 
preserved  as  impressions  on  clay.  Moreover,  many  conifers  have 
a  pinnate  ramification  very  similar  in  appearance  to  those  of 
Selaginella  and  Lycopodium.  But  Schimper  adds  that  certain 
marks  will  always  enable  us  to  detect  the  differences.     Whenever 


BY    THE  REV.   J.   E.   TENISON-WOODS,   F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  141 

the  branching  of  conifers  presents  a  pinnate  structure  the  principal 
axis  is  always  straight  simple,  never  dichotomous,  and  the  branch- 
lets  decrease  gradually  and  regularly  from  the  base  to  the  summit. 
In  the  first  condition  they  are  always  simple,  but  when  they  branch 
in  their  turn  it  is  by  axillary  distichous  branchlets  which  develop 
themselves  in  turn  in  these  branches  of  the  second  order  as  they 
have  done  in  the  first  instance.  On  the  other  hand  whenever 
species  of  Lycoj)odhim  or  Selagenella  appears  to  be  pinnate  from 
the  alternate  inequality  of  the  branches  at  the  point  of  bifurca- 
tion, this  stem  is  in  reality  a  Sympodium  which  is  easily  dis- 
tinguished in  the  young  state,  or  at  its  superior  extremity  by  a 
regular  zig-zag  outline  whose  re-entering  and  salient  angles  corre- 
spond to  the  points  of  dichotomy.  The  absence  of  lateral  buds  in 
Lycopods  naturally  excludes  lateral  or  axillary  branches.  The 
germ-like  projections  v/hich  are  noticed  in  some  species  of  Lyco- 
podiuvi  and  Selago,  and  which  at  first  sight  seem  to  resemble 
lateral  or  axillary  buds,  are  in  fact  enlargements  which  sometimes 
take  the  place  of  spore-cases,  of  which  they  are  probably  the  mor- 
phological equivalents.  The  leaves  of  the  two  branches  which 
result  from  dichotomy  are,  in  the  case  of  Lycopods,  homodromous, 
or  running  in  the  same  spiral  direction ;  whereas,  in  the  case  of 
conifers  they  are  antidromous,  or  run  in  the  opposite  direction  to 
the  principal  branch.  Bearing  these  distinctions  in  mind  I  think 
that  some  of  our  so-called  conifers,  which  have  been  passed  over 
as  imperfectly  preserved  specimens  of  Brachyphyllu77i  are  in  reality 
Lycopodites  I  am  not  at  present  in  a  position  to  describe  any  of 
the  specimens  to  which  I  refer.  Some  in  my  possession  from  the 
Ipswich  coalfields  are  too  fragmentary  for  determination.  I  merely 
record  the  fact  of  there  being  some  doubtful  evidence  of  Lycopodites 
for  future  investigation. 

Order.     Cycade^. 

Flowers  unisexual,  without  any  perianth.  Male  flowers  forming 
catkins  or  cones,  consisting  of  numerous  spirally  arranged 
imbricated  scales  (or  stamens),  more  or  less  cuneate,  bearing  on 
the  concealed  portion  of  their  under  surface,  numerous  sessile  or 


142      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLOEA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

rarely  stipitate  anther-cells,  each  opening  in  two  valves,  the  upper 
imbricate  and  exposed  part  of  the  scales  hardened  and  often  much 
thickened,  the  apex  truncate  or  more  less  produced  into  an 
incurved  or  recurved  point  or  lanceolate  appendix.  Female  cones 
consisting  of  numerous  scales,  imbricate  at  least  when  young, 
either  with  one  pendulous  ovule  (or  carpel)  on  each  side  of  the 
thickened  and  hardened  apex,  or  with  three  or  more  erect  ovules 
(or  carpels)  in  marginal  notches  below  the  flattened  acuminate, 
and  usually  dentate  or  pinnatifid  apex.  Fruiting-cone  enlarged, 
and  either  remaining  imbricate  with  two  pendulous  seeds  to  each 
scale,  or  the  scales  with  marginal  seeds  spreading  as  the  central 
shoot  is  developed  within  the  cone.  Seeds  naked  (or  nuts)  with  a 
thick  or  hard  outer  coating  or  integument,  and  a  fleshy  albumen, 
in  a  central  cavity  of  which  the  straight  embryo  is  suspended  by  a 
long  folded  cord.  Cotyledons  two,  undivided.  Palm-like  plants, 
with  a  thick  globose,  and  underground  or  erect  and  cylindrical 
woody  stem,  simple  or  rarely  slightly  branched,  marked  with  the 
scars  or  bases  of  the  old  leaves.  Leaves  forming  a  crown  at  the  apex 
of  the  stem,  once  or  twice  pinnate.  Cones  sessile  or  very  shortly 
pedunculate,  within  the  crown  of  leaves. 

The  Order  extends  over  tropical  America,  sub-tropical  and 
southern  Africa,  and  tropical  Asia  Of  the  three  Australian 
genera,  one  is  also  in  A  sia  and  Africa,  the  other  two  are  endemic. 
The  theoretical  significaiice  of  the  outer  coating  of  the  ovules  and 
seeds,  whether  carpellary  or  seminal,  is,  as  in  the  Coniferae,  still 
the  subject  of  contention. 

Zamites.     Brongniart. 

(As  amended  by  Schimper  including  Zamia  and  Zamites  of 
Brongniart  in  part  and  Crossozamia  of  Powell)* 

Leaves  very  variable  in  size  and  shape,  eithei*  ovate-oblong 
acuminate,  or  oblong  or  linear  and  oblong  acuminate  ;  all  regu 
gularly  pinnate.  Pinnae  more  or  less  horizontal  and  inserted 
perpendicularly    into   the     rachis,     lanceolate,    linear    lanceolate, 

*  Mat^riaux  pour  servir  a  la  Flore  fossile  des  Terres-Jurassiques  de  la 
France.   Par.  M.  Powell,  1849. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.   E.   TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  143 

oblong,  acuminate  or  obtuse,  base  contracting  suddenly  and 
fixed  to  the  anterior  side  of  the  rachis  by  a  more  or  less  distinct 
callosity  ;  solidly  coriaceous.  Nerves  distinct,  straight,  parallel, 
ending  abruptly  at  the  apical  margin  of  the  leaflet. 

In  this  genus  are  grouped  Cycads  with  straight  parallel  nerved 
leaflets  abruptly  constricted  at  the  base,  fixed  at  the  centre  of  that 
base  on  a  callosity.  They  are  mesozoic  plants  which  make  their 
appearance  in  the  Oolitic  period,  and  continue  to  the  present  day. 
It  is  not  certain  that  the  fossils  are  in  every  case  true  Cycads,  as 
the  fructification  has  seldom  or  never  been  seen.  The  female 
cone  of  Zamites  epibius,  Saporta,  and  some  few  others  have  been 
found. 

In  this  genus  Dr.  Feistmantel  includes  Podozamites,  regarding 
the  latter  as  a  sub-genus.  It  was  recited  by  Braun  and  is  adopted 
by  Schimper,  M'Coy  and  others,  and  on  that  account  I  think  it 
better  to  continue  to  give  it  generic  distinction.  Up  to  this  no 
true  Zamites  have  been  found  in  Australian  plant  beds. 

Podozamites.  Fr.  Braun. 

Leaves  of  medium  size.  Leaflets  distant,  spreading,  oblong, 
ovate,  and  linear-oblong,  apex  obtusely  acuminate  or  rounded, 
gradually  narrowed  towards  the  base,  subpedicellate,  pedicel 
articulate,  deciduous.  Nerves  dichotomous  at  the  very  base,  then 
simple,  erect,  parallel,  then  converging  towards  the  apex. 

This  genus  diff'ers  from  Zamites  proper  in  the  oval,  oblong,  or 
elongate  leaflets,  more  or  less  obtuse  above  and  gradually  narrowing 
below,  inserted  on  a  pedicel  at  an  acute  angle,  with  nerves 
dichotomous  at  their  origin,  but  rarely  dividing  afterwards, 
inwardly  curved  and  converging  towards  the  top.  Three  species 
are  already  described. 

Podozamites  barkleyi,  M'Coy  (Pal.  Vict.,  p.  33,  pi.  8,  figs.  1,  2, 
and  5 .)  Fronds  from  one  and  a  half  to  two  and  a  half  inches 
wide,  rachis  thick,  about  one  and  a  half  lines  wide,  pinnules  close 
set,  narrow  linear,  elliptically  pointed  at  the  distal  end,  about  one 
inch  five  lines  long  and  one  line  wide  in  var.  gracilis,  and  one  inch 


144      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 


three  lines  long,  and  one  and  a  half  lines  wide  in  var.  latior, 
abruptly  contracted  to  the  base,  the  narrowed  lowest  portion  of 
which  is  obliquely  inserted  in  two  very  slightly  alternate  or  nearly 
opposite  rows,  basal  portion  with  about  ten  or  twelve  narrow,  equal, 
rounded,  longitudinal  ridges,  which  usually  become  obsolete 
towards  the  distal  half,  on  which  often  only  three  large  ridges  or 
undulations  can  be  seen  ;  the  surface  has  about  50  to  70  longitu- 
dinal stride  in  the  width  of  a  pinnule.  The  bases  of  the  pinnules 
are  nearly  opposite,  and  from  their  narrowness,  seem  rather 
widely  separated,  though  only  far  enough  apart  to  allow  the  edges 
of  the  broader  portion  to  nearly  touch  the  adjoining  edges  of  the 
next  ones. 

"  There  is  someslight  variation  in  the  a  mount  of  alternation  or 
opposition  of  the  pinnules  in  different  specimens.  .  .  .  Also, 
as  in  the  recent  examples,  the  upper  surface  is  more  nearly  smooth 
and  the  lower  surface  of  the  pinnules  more  distinctly  ridged.  At 
first  sight  in  size  and  shape  this  nearly  resembles  the  common 
Zamia  hastula  of  the  Yorkshire  Oolite  coal  beds,  but  is  easily  dis- 
tin<yuished  by  its  smoother  surface,  and  the  contracted  base  of  the 
pimiEe  or  leaflets."  Found  in  a  shaft  sunk  for  coal  between 
Geelong  and  Queenscliff,  associated  with  Alethopteris  australis. 
The  species  is  dedicated  to  Sir  Henry  Barkly. 

Prof.  M'Coy  points  out  the  strong  resemblance  of  the  plants  to 
conifers,  to  which  order  Dr.  O.  Feistmantel  considers  they  should 
be  referred.  We  must  await  the  discovery  of  cones  or  fruits  to 
decide  the  question. 

Podozamites  ellipticus.  M'Coy  (1.  c,  p.  35.  pi.  8,  fig.  4.) 
Fronds  about  2J  inches  wide  ;  rachis  very  thick,  about  2  lines 
wide  ;  pinnules  elliptical,  scarcely  touching,  varying  in  size  from 
\\  inches  long  and  3 J  inches  wide,  to  1  inch,  1  line  long  and  2 
lines  wide  ;  substance  thick,  usually  showing  only  three  obtuse 
ridges,  but  sometimes  11  smaller,  the  whole  covered  with  a  veiy 
fine  longitudinal  striation  ;  base  of  pinnules  contracted  and  inserted 
obliquely  on  the  rachis  in  a  slightly  alternate  order  or  nearly 
opposite. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.   E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,   F.L.S.  145 

'*This  is  easily  distinguished  from  Z.  harkleyi,  by  the  much 
thicker  rachis,  the  broader  oval  form  of  the  pinnules  and  their 
thicker  substance.  I  have  just  received  some  specimens  nearly 
like  this  plant  in  foliage,  but  having  indications  of  the  leaflets  or 
leaves  being  in  four  instead  of  two  rows,  and  having  a  branching 
stem,  recalling  Lycopodites  williamsoni  of  the  Scarborough  Oolites, 
but  with  the  leaves  flat  and  elliptical,  instead  of  thick  carinate  and 
falcate.  I  should  propose  the  name  Bunyalites  for  the  fossil 
forms  which  approach  Araucarites  in  many  respects,  and  have 
branching  stems,  but  with  the  leaves  contracted  at  the  base  as  in 
the  Podozamites,  and  Araucaria  hidwilli  or  Bunya-bunya.  Along 
with  these  plants  are  also  fruit  cones  resembling  the  Oolitic 
Zamistrohus,  as  far  as  their  character  can  be  seen." 

Podozamites  longifoUus.  M'Coy  (1.  c,  p.  35.  pi.  8,  fig.  3.) 
Fronds  about  ten  lines  wide,  rachis  about  half  a  line  thick  ;  pinnse 
slightly  contracted  and  obliquely  inserted  at  base,  closely  arranged 
in  two  rows,  standing  nearly  at  right  angles  to  the  rachis,  except 
at  the  curved  base  ;  pinnse  linear  narrow,  elliptically  pointed  at 
apex  about  5  lines  long  and  half  a  line  wide ;  midrib  distinct 
with  fine,  parallel  longitudinal  striae. 

*'  At  first  sight  this  resembles  Z.  taxinea  of  the  Yorkshire 
Oolites,  but  is  smaller  and  even  more  like  a  yew  from  the  distinct- 
ness of  the  midrib.  It  diflfers  more  essentially  in  the  contracted 
base  and  oblique  insertion  of  the  leaflets.  The  strong  midrib 
approximates  the  species  to  Cycadites,  but  it  varies  in  some  pinnse 
and  the  contracted  oblique  base  of  the  pinnse  prevents  a  reference 
to  the  genus.  The  plant  is  not  so  common  as  the  other  gymno- 
sperms  in  the  coal  shale  at  Bellarine,  where  I  have  seen  about 
half-a-dozen  specimens." 

Podozamites  lanceolatus^  Lindley  and  Hutton  (as  Zamia),  Foss. 
Flor.,  Ill,  194,  1837.  Zamites  lanceolatus,  Eichwald,  Leth.,  Ross.; 
II,  p.  40,  pi.  3,  fig.  1,  1865-68;  Podozamites  distans,  Schimper, 
Pal,  veg.,  vol.  2,  p.  159,  Atlas,  pi.  71,  fig.  1.  P.  lanceolatus  and 
varieties,  Heer  Flora  Ostsibiriens,  &c.,  p.  108,  pi.  26,  fig.  10, 
1876 ;  Feistmantel  records   GeoL    Survey  India    1    &  4,   p.    131, 

K 


146      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

1876  ;  Geyler,  Jura  Pflanzen  aus  Japan,  1877  ;  Feistmantel  Flora 
of  the  Jabulptir  group,  Upper  Gondwanas,  Pal.  India,  vol.  2,  p. 
11  (91),  pi.  3,  fig.  7  to  U,  pi.  4,  fig.  1  to  10. 

Leaves  remote,  deciduous,  entire,  narrowed  at  base,  lanceolate 
acuminate  at  the  apex,  nerves  many,  forked  just  above  the  base 
then  simple  and  converging  to  the  apex.  Dr.  Feistmantel  adds 
that  this  is  "  a  very  characteristic  form  widely  spread  in  the 
Jurassic  formation.  It  is  known  from  Spitzbergen,  England,  S. 
Russia,  East  Siberia,  Amur,  and  Japan.  In  our  own  Jabulpiir 
group,  it  is  pretty  frequent."  To  these  localities  I  am  enabled  to 
add  Australia.  I  have  found  it  very  abundantly  at  Ipswich.  In 
the  work  already  quoted  by  Dr.  Heer  on  the  Jurassic  Flora  of 
Eastern  Siberia,  he  distinguishes  a  number  of  varieties,  some  of 
which  were  formerly  regarded  as  distinct  species.  Thus  F.  distans 
of  PresL,  a  Rhsetic  fossil  is  connected  with  P.  lanceolatus,  as  well 
as  P.  eichwaldi  of  Schimper.  Dr.  Feistmantel  finds  three  varie- 
ties in  India,  namely,  P.  lanceolatus  genuinus,  in  which  the  leaves 
are  lanceolate  with  a  pretty  acuminate  apex.  South  Rewah, 
Jabulpur,  and  Sher  River.  P,  Ian.  var.  spathulatus,  Feistm.,  pi. 
4,  fig.  11-12.  Leaves  shorter,  oval  lanceolate,  base  attenuate. 
"There  are  some  leaves  which  I  think  however  belong  to  the  same 
species,  distinguishing  it  as  a  variety  only."     South  Rewah. 

Both  these  varieties  occur  abundantly  in  the  Ipswich  basin, 
one  specimen  showing  how  the  leaves  were  affixed  to  the 
parent  stem,  and  though  the  fragment  is  imperfect  it  shows  pre- 
cisely the  growth  figured  by  Schimper.  (Atlas,  pi.  71,  fig.  1.) 
There  are  other  fragments  of  stems  which  also  show  the  mode  of 
attachment  attributed  to  this  species.  I  am  aware  of  course  of 
the  risk  of  error  in  making  the  identification  between  the  fossils  of 
Ipswich  and  those  of  Europe,  but  the  resemblance  is  so  close  that 
I  do  not  think  that  there  is  any  ground  for  hesitation. 

In  the  Queensland  specimens  the  veins  are  simple,  straight, 
parallel,  from  8  to  12  in  a  leaf.  Length  of  leaves  from  45 
to  lOOmillim.,  breadth  from  2  to  12  according  as  the  leaf  is  ovate 
or  lanceolate. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.  E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  147 

This  plant  may  have  been  the  same  as  Zeugophyllites  australis^ 
Morr.  It  must  be  remembered  that  the  latter  genus  was  established 
by  Brongniart  for  a  plant  with  leaflets  such  as  these,  but  in  pairs. 
In  the  plants  found  at  Jerusalem,  Tasmania,  and  classified  by 
Morris  as  Zeugophyllites  there  was  nothing  to  show  that  the  leaflets 
were  in  pairs.  The  form  of  the  leaf  alone  guided  Prof  Morris  in 
his  determination  ;  and  that  form  was  so  similar  to  the  leaves 
described  above  that  they  may  have  been  the  same.  For  the 
present  I  must  leave  the  matter  as  it  stands.  There  is  only  one 
species  of  this  plant,  but  I  note,  also,  leaves  of  the  same  shape 
associated  with  them,  but  in  which  the  coriaceous  epidermis  is 
almost  smooth  in  consequence  of  the  fine,  close  nerves.  In 
these  leaves  there  are  sometimes  faint  traces  of  a  midrib  also ; 
leaves  larger  and  coarser  than  the  foregoing,  with  which  they  are 
always  associated.  The  nerves  are  only  four  or  five,  and  the  leaf 
has  a  rough  appearance.  Also  a  fossil  which  may  be  the  same  as 
P.  hacket%  Feistm.  (I.e.,  p.  92,  pi.  7,  fig.  4,  5,  4a,  46,  5a,)  in  which 
the  leaf  is  broader,  springing  from  a  thick  rachis,  veins  numerous 
with  an  indistinct  median  nerve  like  a  midrib.  Dr.  Feistmantel 
found  it  in  connection  with  the  rachis  and  compared  it  with  Heer's 
P.  plicatus  from  the  Amur  countries.  The  number  and  variety 
of  the  leaves  at  Ipswich  makes  that  deposit  peculiarly  advanta- 
geous for  their  study.  It  is  one  of  the  many  instances  of  the 
fact  that  we  meet  with  a  fossil  in  Australia,  which  is  world-wide 

in  its  distribution. 

Ptilophyllum.      Morris. 

(As  amended  by  Schimper.)  Paleozamia  {Ptilophyllum),  Oldham 
and  Morris.  Leaves  rather  long,  petiolate,  petiole  exactly  terete, 
graceful,  feather-like  (whence  the  name),  linear-lanceolate,  gradu- 
ally acuminate  towards  the  summit,  sometimes  narrowed  below. 
Leaflets  of  equal  size,  affixed  to  the  rachis  by  the  anterior  side  and 
somewhat  imbricate  there,  flat,  coriaceous,  linear,  apex  obliquely 
acuminate  above  and  slightly  curved,  the  superior  angle  of  the  base 
rounded,  sub-auriculate,  free,  the  lower  and  fixed  portion  acute 
and  slightly  decurrent.  Fructification  strobiliform ;  seeds  small, 
ovate,  oblong.     Stipe  cylindrical,  narrow. 


148      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

This  is  the  type  of  the  Indian  fossil  plant,  which  has  not  been 
found  in  Europe,  nor  hitherto  in  Australia.  It  is  distinguished 
by  its  long,  straight,  pinnate,  feather  like  leaves,  regularly  acuminate 
above  and  below.  The  pinnules  are  very  close  and  somewhat 
imbricate  at  the  base,  but  the  decurrent  portion  does  not  unite 
with  the  base  of  the  leaflet  beneath,  but  passes  behind  it.  The 
nerves  are  somewhat  numerous,  well-defined,  simple  or  bi-furcate 
and  more  or  less  divergent.  The  principal  distinction  is  the 
manner  in  which  the  pinnules  are  affixed  to  the  rachis.  They 
were  small  and  elegant  plants  which  must  have  been  abundant  in 
the  places  where  they  grew,  as  numbers  are  always  found  entombed 
together.  They  seem  to  have  no  analogy  with  any  living  form. 
Two  species  are  known,  and  both  from  India. 

These  plants  were  originally  classed  with  Palceozamia. 
Endlicher,  which  included  certain  fossils  referred  by  Brongniart  to 
Zaynio,  and  by  Lindley  and  Hutton,  to  Ferns.  Oldham  in  1862, 
proposed  to  arrange  the  genus  in  three  sections,  viz.  : — 1. 
Ptilophyllum,  with  linear  pinnae,  approximate,  scarcely  auriculate^ 
nerves  parallel  or  slightly  divergent.  2.  Otozamites. — Pinnae 
lanceolate,  auriculate  or  semi-cordate  at  the  base,  veins  fine, 
numerous,  divergent.  3.  Siithenozartiites. — Pinnae  ovate,  wedge- 
shaped  or  cuneiform,  not  auriculate  at  the  base,  veins  numerous, 
diverging.  The  section  Ptilophyllum,  included  five  species  from 
India,  which  are  described  in  the  1st  vol.  of  the  Fossil  Flora  of 
the  Gondwana  system  (pp.  27  to  31)*  as  Palceozamia. 

When  the  revision  of  the  Flora  came  out  in  1880,  Dr. 
Feistmantel  in  the  same  vol.  at  p.  116  (p.  64  of  the  Fasciculus) 
gave  his  reasons  for  including  Oldham's  section,  Ptilophyllum, 
in  a  distinct  genus  of  that  name,  which  had  been  proposed  by 
Morris  in  1840.*  He  says  (loc.  cit.)  '^Ptilophyllum,  is  a  peculiar 
Indian  genus,  which  in  the  same  form  has  not  occurred  elsewhere. 
The  only  analogy  is  the  Liassic  Otozamites  gracilis,  Kurr  sp.  The 
chief  characteristics  are  in  the  insertion  and  the  basal  angle  of  the 

*  Memoirs  of  the  Geol.  Surv.  of  India.  Palteontologica  Indica,  Ser.  II. 
Calcutta.  Govt.  Printing  Office,  London,  Trtlbner  and  Co.,  1880.  But 
Oldham's  part  appeared  much  earlier,  in  1862. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.    E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  149 

leaflets.  The  leaflets  are  as  M.  Schiinper  has  ah*eady  pointed  out, 
inserted  only  at  the  lower  angle  of  their  bases,  where  they  are 
little  decurrent,  and  are  overlapped  by  the  free  and  slightly 
auriculated  angle  of  the  next  lower  leaflet."  This  feature  is  only 
seen  on  the  upper  surface,  while  on  the  lower  we  see  only  the 
stalk. 

In  Dr.  Oldham's  first  determination  he  included  five  species  in 
his  section.  Three  of  these  have  since  been  included  with 
Otozamites  by  Dr.  O.  Feistmantel.  The  other  two  are  now 
described  as  Ptilophyllum  acutifoliuin,  Morr.  and  P.  cutchense, 
Morr.  The  first  is  distinguished  by  its  large  size  and  acute 
leaflets  ;  the  second  by  the  smaller  size  of  the  leaf  and  by  the 
shorter  and  more  obtuse  leaflets.  They  occur  in  a  compact  lime- 
stone with  Ferns,  also  in  opaque  white  chalcedony,  in  which  the 
fragments  of  fronds  and  leaf  stalks  form  a  breccia. 

The  species  which  I  now  describe  partakes  of  an  intermediate 
character.  It  has  the  acute  leaflets  of  P.  acutifolium  and  the  small 
size  of  P.  cutche7ise,  and  furthermore  is  distinguished  from  both  by 
its  few,  simple  parallel  veins. 

Ptilophyllum  oligoneurum.  n.  s.  Plate  7,  figs.  2,  3,  4.  Frond 
pinnate,  long  linear,  gradually  tapering  to  the  apex.  Pinnae  rather 
long,  narrow,  slightly  oblique,  alternate,  separate,  but  very  close, 
rounded  and  curved,  somewhat  falcate,  ending  in  quite  an  acute 
apex  at  the  upper  edge  ;  base  rounder  or  auriculate  above, 
obliquely  inserted,  leaving  when  detached  a  series  of  oblique 
alternate,  elongate  depressions  on  the  rachis.  Veins  distinct  from 
their  origin  and  parallel  to  the  apex,  from  4  to  6  in  number,  all 
well  marked  and  conspicuous.  Length  of  longest  pinnae  12  to  15, 
breath  1|  to  2,  mill. 

Very  common  in  the  plant  formation  of  Rosewood,  near  Rock- 
ampton,  where  it  is  associated  with  a  Sequoia  (?)  to  be  hereafter 
described,  a  large  Equisetum,  some  Ferns  and  Vertebraria.  The 
stone  crops  out  on  the  surface  and  is  a  kind  of  chert  or  travertin. 

*  Geol.  Transactions,  London,  2nd  Ser.  vol.  for  1840,  pi.  21,  &c.,  and 
Annals  of  Nat.  Hist.  Ser.  1,  vol.  7,  p.  116. 


150      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

The  plant  impressions  often  occur  as  in  the  Indian  PtilojyJiylhcm  in 
a  compact  limestone,  or  an  opaque  chalcedony,  in  which  the  frag- 
ments of  the  fronds  are  imprinted  and  then  have  been  broken. 
These  have  been  subsequently  stratified  into  lines  of  breccia  between 
masses  of  more  compact  rock. 

Stangerites.  Bornemann  1856.* 
This  genus  was  established  by  Bornemann  for  certain  species  of 
Cycads  which  had  previously  been  regarded  as  Ferns  of  the  genus 
Tcenio2yter{s,  but  which  from  their  resemblance  to  the  living  Cycad 
Stangeria  (from  Port  Natal),  were  called  Stangerites.  I  mention 
this,  because  one  species  found  by  me  at  Rosewood,  near  Ipswich, 
was  certainly  Oldham  v.  Morris's  Stangerites  ensis,  now  however, 
regarded  as  a  Fern  of  the  genus  Angiopteridium,  already  described 
in  the  foregoing  pages. 

Otozamites.     Fr.  Braun. 

(Odontopterisj   Sternb.   Goeppert,    Unger,   in  part.       Otopteris, 
Lindley  and  Hutton,  Schenk. ) 

Leaves  moderately  large,  rarely  very  large,  regularly  pinnate, 
elongately  linear,  narrowed  at  each  end,  leaflets  densely  close  or 
more  or  less  i-emote,  alternate  or  linear  lanceolate,  obovate 
rhomboid  or  sub-circular,  base  suddenly  narrowed,  obliquely 
inserted  on  the  upper  side  of  the  sub-terete  rachis,  unequally 
auriculate,  upper  auricle  smaller  than  the  lower  one,  and  adpressed 
to  the  rachis.  Nerves  radiating  from  the  insertion  of  the  leaflet  ; 
basilar  arcuate,  the  others  sub-arcuate,  once  or  more  dichotomous. 
Epidermis  with  elongate  deeply  sinuous  cellules.  This  genus 
which  is  distinguished  by  its  peculiar  leaflets  and  thin  mode  of 
attachment  to  the  rachis,  has  been  by  some,  regarded  as  a  Fern 
allied  to  Lindscea,  but  the  cycadaceous  character  is  well  established. 
Otozamites  make  their  first  appearance  between  the  Trias  and  Lias. 
They  abound  most  in  the  middle  Oolite,  and  after  that,  diminish 
until  in  the  upper  Oolite,  they  are  replaced  by  Zamites  and 
Sjyhenozamites ,     No  existing  form  closely  resembles  them. 


Ueber  organische  Reste  der  letzteren  Kolilengruppe,  Thuringen. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.   E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  151 

Otozamites  mandeslohi  Kurr,  Beitrage  Foss.  Flora  d.  Juraform. 
Wiirttemb.,  p.  10,  tab.  1,  fig.  3.  (as  Zamites).  Leaves  long  linear, 
gradually  narrowed  towards  the  apex,  25  millim.  wide.  Leaflets 
densely  crowded,  oblique,  alternating,  inserted  on  the  rachis  with 
contiguous  bases,  ovate  oblong,  obtuse,  base  sub-cordate,  14  millim. 
long,  8  broad,  nerves  close,  diverging. 

On  this  species.  Dr.  Feistmantel  says  (op.  cit.  pi.  xii.,  a  fig.  6). 
"  This  is  the  first  Otozamites  identified  from  Australia.  From  upper 
mesozoic  beds,  Queensland,  Talgai  diggings.  It  appears  to  be 
very  close  to  0.  mandeslohi,  a  Liassic  species,  to  which  I  refer  it 
for  the  present."     Also  Toowoomba,  common. 

Zeugophyllites.     Brongniart. 

Fronds  (?)  petiolate,  pinnate,  pinnse  opposite  (?)  oblong,  nerves 
valid  few,  equal,  becoming  confluent  at  the  base  and  apex. 

This  is  the  diagnosis  which  Brongniart  originally  gave  of  the 
genus  from  specimens  which  came  from  Ramiganj  in  India. 
Subsequently  in  1844,  in  his  '^  Tableau  des  generes  de  Yegetaux 
fossiles,  he  says  : — "  Under  this  name  (^Zeugophyllites)  I  have 
described  a  pinnatifid  form  of  Monocotyledonous  leaf,  resembling 
such  Palm  leaves  as  Calamus,  Desmoncus,  &c  ,  whose  leaflets  have 
many  principal  nerves  and  are  not  bent  into  a  keel  on  the  median 
line.  In  the  only  species  (then)  known  the  leaves  are  opposed  as  in 
some  species  of  Calamus.'''^ 

At  first  Dr.  Feistmantel  was  inclined  to  think  that  this  was  a 
species  of  Schizoneura.  This  it  will  be  remembered  is  an  Indian 
equisetaceous  plant,  the  sheaths  of  which  are  united  and  stem 
clasping.  Subsequently  they  divide  along  sutural  lines  which 
look  like  nerves.  But  there  is  clearly  no  such  division  here,  and 
neither  Schimper,  Morris,  nor  M'Coy,  took  that  view.  Still  I 
cannot  adopt  the  opinion  that  these  leaves  have  anything  to  do 
with  palms  like  Calamus.  A  comparison  of  the  leaves  will  at  once 
show  the  difference.  Besides  these  plants  have  evidently  grown  in 
marshy  places  in  company  with  the  true  Equisetuni.  Now  though 
Calamus  is  found  in  moist  jungle,  it  hardly  seems  to  be  of  such  a 

*Ita  Feistmantel  op.  cit.  p.  95. 


152      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

habit  that  it  woulfl  probably  give  rise  to  coal.  Then  again,  all  the 
stems  of  such  palms  are  extremely  thick  and  woody,  and  we  meet 
with  no  such  remains.  The  same  objections  apply  to  Zamia  and 
Cycas.  They  certainly  do  not  grow  in  moist  places  in  Australia, 
but  on  the  contrary  are  found  in  the  very  driest  and  sandy  soil. 
Undoubted  Cycads  are  found  in  connection  with  coal  in  Europe  and 
India,  as  the  cones  testify,  but  they  are  different  from,  our  existing 
forms. 

To  this  genus  was  referred  some  specimens  brought  to  Europe 
by  Count  Strzelecki.  In  the  account  given  of  the  Fossil  Flora  of 
Australia,  Prof.  Morris  says*  Zeugophyllites,  Brongniart,  family 
uncertain.     Z.  elongatus  (PI.  vi.,  fig.  5,  5a).     Stem  % 

leaves  petiolate,  oblong  elongate,  entire  truncate,  and  slightly 
thickened  at  the  base ;  veins  distinct,  equal,  parallel.  The 
specimen  figured,  has  been  provisionally  referred  to  Zeugophyllites 
Brongniart,  as  it  agrees  tolerably  well  with  the  characters  assigned 
to  the  leaves  of  that  genus.  These  leaves  were  probably  sessile  or 
even  amplexicaul,  as  might  be  inferred  from  their  slightly 
thickened  base,  and  pinnately  arranged  at  short  distances  along  a 
common  stem,  after  the  manner  of  the  foliation  of  Schizoneura, 
Schimper,  Convallarites,  Brongniart,  to  which  genus  our  species 
offers  some  resemblance  ;  the  leaves  however  in  Schizoneura,  have 
fewer  veins,  and  appear  to  have  been  somewhat  carinated. 
Locality — Lower  Jerusalem  Basin,  Van  Diemen's  Land. 

Feistmantel  quotes  the  genus  from  Newcastle  beds  as  well.  I 
have  never  seen  it  there,  or  at  least  the  Newcastle  specimens  are 
not  the  same  as  those  of  Tasmania,  which  are  very  like  those  of  the 
Ipswich  (Q.L.)  Mines,  and  probably  as  already  stated,  belonging 
to  Podozamites  lanceolatus,  Lindley  and  Hutton. 

Fossil  Plants  of  Uncertain  Affinities. 
Ngeggerathiopsis.     Feistmantel. 
Leaves  unknown,   leaflets   (pinnules)   wedge-shaped   from    the 
base   or  elongate-spathulate,  sub-rhomboid    or   obovate,    margins 

*  See  Physical  Description  of  N.  S.  W.  and  Van  Diemen's  Land,  by 
P.  E.  de  Strzelecki,  London,  1845,  p.  250. 


BY   THE    REV.  J.  E.  TENISON- WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  153 

straight  or  incurved  ;  nerves  close  and  numerous,  somewhat  thick 
at  the  base,  and  from  thence  forking  twice  or  oftener,  becoming 
slender  and  diverging  into  the  leaf. 

This  is  a  genus  erected  by  Dr.  Feistmantel  in  1878,*  for  certain 
leaves  from  the  Talchir-Karharbari  beds,  which  had  been  previously 
classed  as  Noggerathia.  To  this  latter  genus  had  been  referred 
similar  fossil  plants  from  the  Newcastle  beds  by  Dana,  and  also 
other  leaves  from  the  Jura  rocks  of  the  Altai  mountains,  k. 
comparison  since  made,  has  shown  that  the  whole  of  these  leaves 
belong  to  closely  allied  plants,  though  Prof.  Schmalhausen  working 
independently,  has  called  his  genus  Rki2)tozamites.  In  Australia, 
they  occur  in  paleozoic  strata.  In  India,  they  are  Liassic,  and  in 
the  Altai,  Oolitic.  They  differ  in  many  ways  from  true 
Noggerathia,  a  genus  which  includes  a  very  miscellaneous  assort- 
ment of  plants.  Some  are  probably  Conifers  and  some  Cycads, 
while  Dr.'Heer  suggests  that  Noeggerathioims  is  a  connecting  link 
between  the  two.  Dr.  Feistmantel  states  (I.e.  p.  156)  that  his 
father  had  made  the  discovery  of  a  true  Fern  fructification  of 
sporangia  and  spores  in  Noggerathia  foliosa,  Sternberg,  of  tlie 
Bohemian  coal  measures,  but  this  cannot  be  held  to  apply  further 
than  to  that  one  species.  The  species  are  not  to  be  confounded 
with  either  Schizoneura  or  Zeugo2:)hyllites,  as  the  venation  of  the 
leaves  clearly  shows. 

Noeggerathioijsis  spathulata,  Dana  (I.e.,  p.  715,  pi.  12,  f.  9.) 
Leaves  short,  spathulate  ;  apex  triangular  and  subacute,  narrowed 
at  the  base,  and  thence  gradually  dilating,  nerves  very  delicate  and 
only  partially  distinct — four  or  five  veins  in  the  breadth  of  a  line. 

In  the  figure  given  of  this  fossil  by  Dana  there  is  a  cluster  of 
leaves  radiating  from  a  common  base,  each  nearly  2^  inches  long. 
"In  this  cluster,"  says  Dana,  "which  is  evidently  a  natural 
group,  the  leaves  are  of  different  sizes.  The  younger  are  quite 
narrow,  oblanceolate  ;  length  five  times  the  greatest  breadth,  and 
have  a  tapering  apex.  The  older  are  nearly  an  inch  broader 
towards  the  apex,  the  base  of  the  largest  is  but  a  little  over  1^ 
lines,  and  from  this  base  they  widen  till  within  half  an  inch  of 

*  Records  Geol.  Surv.  India,  vol.  xi.,  p.  23. 


154      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

the  apex.  The  centre  from  which  the  leaves  radiate  has  a  shining 
coaly  aspect,  as  if  a  soft  bud  or  vegetable  base  of  some  thickness 
had  been  pressed  down  and  carbonized.  The  same  specimen 
contains  a  portion  of  another  similar  group. 

N'oeggerathioiJsis  media  (Dana),  loc.  cit.,  pi.  12,  fig.  10.  Elon- 
gate lanceolate,  tapering  towards  the  base  and  broadest  within  an 
inch  of  the  apex.  Extremity  subtriangular,  and  apex  rounded. 
Veins  a  little  divergent  about  fifteen  to  half  an  inch.  One  leaf 
five  inches  long,  about  an  inch  wide  within  an  inch  of  apex,  and  a 
fourth  of  an  inch  at  base  ;  another  shorter.     Newcastle. 

Noeggarathiopsis  elongata. — This  is  a  doubtful  species  which 
Dana  identified  with  Morris  ZeugophyUites  elongatus,  but  says 
that  it  was  found  at  Newcastle,  which  is  clearly  an  error.  He 
says  that  it  may  be  identical  with  Goeppert's  i\^.  distans,^  but 
that  plant  grew  in  clusters,  and,  moreover,  had  veins  bifurcating 
in  the  middle,  which  does  not  occur  in  Morris'  fossil. 

Noeggerathiopsis  p)risGa,  Feistmantel  (Pal.  Flor.  Oest.  Aust., 
p.  158,  pi.  16,  fig.  3).  Leaves  unknown,  leaflets  (pinnules) 
medium-sized,  sub-rhomboid,  obovate,  slightly  inequilateral.  Nerves 
close  and  fine,  emerging  radiately  from  a  narrow  base  and  forking 
twice  or  thrice. 

Greta  Creek,  N.S.W.,  under  the  marine  paleozoic  fossiliferous 
strata. 

CoRDAiTES.     linger. 

Stem  a  simple  woody  cylinder  without  medullary  rays,  but 
composed  of  radiating  scalariform  vessels,  encircling  a  large  pith 
with  transverse  lamellar  partitions.  Bark  marked  with  leaf-scars. 
Leaves  simple,  sessile,  very  long,  fiat,  parallel-sided,  with  broad 
clasping  base,  easily  disarticulated  from  the  stem,  no  midrib,  but 
fine  parallel  neuration. 

These  plants  are  variously  placed  by  different  authors.  The 
leaves  have  certainly  the  aspect  of  endogenous  plants,  but  the  stem 
and  woody  tissure  are  cryptogamic.  Schimper  regards  them  as 
coniferous.  They  are  characteristic  of  the  Devonian  and  Carboni- 
ferous periods. 

*  Tchihatcheff's  L' Altai  Oriental,  p.  385,  pi.  28,  fig.  8. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.  E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  155 

Cordaites  australis  M'Coy  (Pal.  Vict.,  Decade  4,  p.  22.  Plate, 
36,  figs.  6  and  7.)  Leaves  several  inches  long,  thick,  flattened, 
parallel  sided,  with  unequal,  longitudinal,  simple  parallel  stride  ; 
clasping  base  slightly  widened  and  bent  a  little  downwards. 
Leaves  at  one  inch  from  the  base,  about  four  to  five  lines  wide ; 
base  about  two  to  three  lines  wider. 

''  The  leaves  of  this  species  although  narrow,  are  much  thicker 
in  the  substance  than  in  any  of  the  other  known  species,  and  the 
parallel  veins  are  more  unequal  and  less  distinct,  the  larger  having 
fewer  and  sub-equal  small  ridges  with  much  more  numerous  sub- 
equal  fine  striae,  thus  approaching  more  to  the  foliage  of  Dammar  a 
and  favoring  M.  Grand-Eury  and  Prof.  Schimper's  idea  of  coni- 
ferous afiinites.  Common  in  the  Upper  Devonian  flags  of  Iguana 
Creek." 

I  believe  I  have  identified  the  same  species  in  the  shales  and 
slates  of  Gympie,  Queensland  (Lady  Mary  shaft),  and  also  in  the 
sandstone  ranges  at  the  Drummond  Range  (Bobuntungun  in  the 
sandstone,  about  one  mile  west  of  the  railway  station.)*  In  both 
it  is  not  very  abundant. 

Class   Conifers. 

Trees  or  shrubs,  mostly  with  resinous  secretions,  the  leaves  are 
stiff",  sometimes  linear  or  needle  like,  sometimes  short  and 
scale  like,  or  more  rarely  broad,  lobed,  or  divided.  The  flowers 
are  unisexual,  either  in  cylindrical  or  short  catkins,  with 
closely  packed  scales,  or  the  females  are  solitary.  There 
is  no  perianth.  The  stamens  in  the  males  are  either  inserted 
on  the  axis  of  the  catkin  under  the  scales,  or  the  anther-cells 
are  sessile,  on  the  inside  of  the  scales  themselves,  which 
then  form  part  of  the  stamens.  The  ovules  and  seeds  are 
naked,  that  is  without  ovary  style  or  pericarp,  although  sometimes 
more  or  less  enclosed  in  two  bracts,  or  in  a  fleshy  or  hardened 
disk.  The  seeds  are  albuminous  with  one,  or  sometimes  several 
embryos  in  the  centre,  each  embryo   having  sometimes  more  than 

*  It  is  very  common  in  the  fragments  of  stone  of  which  the  embankment 
is  made  at  the  Medway  bridge,  with  Lepidodendron. 


156      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

two  cotyledons.  There  are  probably  nearly  two  hundred  species 
known,  dispersed  over  a  great  part  of  the  globe,  several  of  them 
forming  large  forests  in  temperate  climates,  or  more  rarely  w^ithin 
the  tropics;  while  some  of  them  extend  almost  to  the  utmost 
limits  of  woody  vegetation  in  high  latitudes,  or  at  great  elevations. 
They  are  distributed  into  about  twenty-five  genera,  forming  three 
tribes  or  sub-orders: — 1.  Abietinese,  with  the  fruits  collected  in  cones 
and  inverted  ovules  ;  of  this  the  principal  genera  are  Pinus 
(including  Abies),  Araucaria,  Cunninghamia,  Sequoia,  &c.  2. 
Cupressineae,  with  the  fruits  collected  in  cones  and  erect  ovules  ; 
including  Juniperus,  Callitris,  Thuja,  Cupressus,  Taxodium,  Cryp- 
tomeria,  &c.  3.  Taxinese,  sometimes  considered  as  a  distinct 
family,  with  the  fruits  solitary  or  loosely  spiked,  including  Podo- 
carpus,  Dacrydium,  Phyllocladus,  Salisburia,  Taxus,  &c. 

The  woody  tissue  of  the  trees  of  this  family  is  seen  to  be  marked 
with  pecular  circular  dots  or  punctuations,  when  examined  under 
the  microscope.  The  ovules  at  the  base  of  each  cone-scale  are 
generally  held  to  be  naked,  each  ovule  having  a  large  opening  at 
its  apex,  to  which  the  pollen  from  the  anthers  is  applied  directly. 
But  some  say  that  the  ovules  are  not  naked,  but  are  contained  in 
a  proper  ovary,  which  is  closely  applied  to  the  seed  ;  that  the  outer 
membranous  scales  are  modified  leaves ;  and  that  the  hard  scales 
are  altered  bracts  bearing  the  pistillate  flowers 

Some  botanists  look  upon  Conifers  as  the  highest  type  of  true 
dicotyledons. 

We  have  abundant  evidence  of  the  existence  of  Conifers  in 
Australia,  in  almost  all  our  plant  beds  except  the  very  earliest  coal 
formations.  This  is  necessary  to  bear  in  mind,  because  Morris  in 
Strzelecki's  work  already  referred  to,  lays  stress  upon  the  absence 
of  such  woods  from  the  N  .S.  Wales  specimens.  Wood,  leaves  and 
scales  of  Conifers,  are  mentioned  by  Dana.  Many  specimens  of 
coniferous  wood,  are  reported  to  occur  in  the  lower  coal  measures, 
Greta  Creek.  Wood  and  leaves  are  found  in  the  Jerusalem  Coal 
Basin  in  Tasmania,  and  both  are  common  as  we  have  seen  in 
the  Ipswich   coal   beds  and  in  the  Tivoli  Mines  in  Queensland. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.  E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  157 

Fragments  of  a  kind  of  jet,  in  which  however,  the  coniferous 
structure  is  very  visible,  are  common  also  in  the  Desert  Sandstone 
in  Queensland.  Finally,  there  are  some  fossil  Walchia,  which 
evidently  bore  a  large  share  in  forming  the  coal  at  Ballinore. 

During  the  Triassic  and  Jurassic  periods  the  exclusive  reign  of 
cryptogams  had  given  place  to  an  almost  exclusive  reign  of 
Conifers.  They  formed  the  principal  part  of  the  vegetation  in  those 
times  and  gave  it  its  particular  aspect.  Lepidodendron  still  lived 
but  held  a  subordinate  place,  and  at  the  same  time  Tree-ferns  and 
Cycads  in  new  forms  of  vegetation  took  their  places  amongst  the 
Conifers.  At  the  ejDOch  of  their  first  appearance  these  as  far  as 
fossil  evidence  will  enable  us  to  judge  were  represented  by  one 
type,  and  that  was  the  araucarian  type,  at  least  that  is  the  struc- 
ture of  the  most  ancient  form  of  coniferous  wood  known.  Several 
forms  closely  allied  give  us  the  gradual  history  of  the  differentia- 
tion of  this  proto-araucaria.  Towards  the  middle  of  the  Jurassic 
period,  the  Cypresses  appear  while  successive  forms  of  Aixtucaria 
have  disappeared  during  the  Permian,  Liassic  and  Jurassic  periods. 
From  this  &^oc\i  Araucaria,  formerly  so  numerous  commenced  to 
decline  in  Europe  and  was  represented  only  by  the  genus  Eutacta, 
which  appeared  towards  the  close  of  the  Jurassic  age,  and  only 
grows  now  in  some  isolated  localities  of  the  southern  hemisphere. 
With  the  close  of  the  tertiary  period  the  age  Araucaria  became 
extinct  in  Europe,  and  was  replaced  by  the  AbietinejB  (Silver  and 
Spruce  Firs,  Larches  and  Cedars),  which  has  assumed  the  lead  of 
the  Cypresses.  Nevertheless  the  Abietineae  though  in  the  first 
rank  of  Conifers  in  the  present  day,  is  not  nearly  so  numerous  as  it 
was  during  tertiary  times. 

The  genus  Araucaria  (including  under  this  name  the  genera 
Colymhea  and  Eutacta),  has  entirely  quitted  the  northern 
hemisphere,  where  its  first  traces  were  seen  in  the  Oolitic  times. 
It  is  now  confined  to  the  south.  One  species  inhabits  the 
mountain  ranges  of  Brazil ;  a  second  extends  southward  of  Chili  to 
Patagonia.  There  are  only  five  other  species  known,  and  these 
are  confined  to  Australia  and  a  few  Pacific  Islands  close  to 
Australia.     All  the  Araucarieae  are  distinguished   by  having  the 


158      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

scales  of  their  cones  one-seeded.  In  Araucaria  proper,  leaves  are 
scale-formed,  persistent,  and  widest  at  the  base.  The  flowers  are 
male  and  female  on  separate  plants ;  the  cones  are  mostly  large 
globular,  terminal,  with  scales  partially  or  entirely  deciduous,  and 
the  seeds  more  less  attached  to  them.  Colymhea,  a  true  Araucaria, 
with  broad  lanceolate  leaves,  and  seed  leaves  germinating  under 
ground.  Eutacta  (false  Araucaria),  with  awl-shaped  leaves  and 
seed  leaves  germinating  above  ground.  Dammar  a,  with  broad, 
flat,  stalked  leaves,  opposite,  alternate  and  leathery,  cones  axillary, 
scales  persistent,  seeds  attached.  See  Schimper,  Paleontologie 
Yegetale,  vol.  2,  p.  227,  whose  views  I  have  summarized  in  the 
above  remarks. 

Sub-order   Taxodiace^e. 

Leaves  and  scales  of  the  strobilus  or  cone  disposed  spirally, 
rarely  decussate.  Leaves  of  very  varied  forms  according  to  the 
genera  either  squamose,  acicula.r  or  linear,  falcate  or  narrow, 
spreading  on  every  side  or  distinctly  flattened.  Bracts  of  the 
scales  adnate  more  or  less  produced.  Scales  often  ligneous,  some- 
what thick,  not  numerous.     Ovules  2  to  9,  inverse  or  erect. 

In  this  sub -order  is  included  one  living  Australian  Conifer, 
Arthrotaxis  which  is  indigenous  to  Tasmania,  but  according  to 
this  arrangement  our  common  pine  Frenela  or  Callitris,  would  be 
found  amongst  the  Cupressace^.  Among  the  Taxodiace^  is 
included  Br  achy phy  Hum  which  is  however  doubtfully  so  placed  as 
its  true  position  and  relations  are  matters  of  dispute. 

Brachyphyllum.       Brongniart. 

Shrubs  or  trees.  Branches  irregularly  pinnately  ramulose. 
Leaves  extremely  short,  arranged  spirally,  densely  close,  bases 
dilate,  contiguous,  probably  fleshy  when  alive,  pyramidal,  curved 
above,  or  from  the  mutual  pressure  of  the  bases  pentagonal  and 
hexagonal,  produced  into  short  or  very  short  papillae,  long  per- 
sistent, and  with  age  as  the  branches  thickens,  dilating  and 
becoming  scutelliform,  subsequently  when  falling  away  leaving 
raised  contiguous  rhomboid  scars  marked  in  the  middle  with 
vascular  cicatrices. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.   E.  TENISON- WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  159 

No  genus  of  living  Conifers  corresponds  with  these  fossil  plants. 
The  leaves  are  short  and  fleshy,  straight  or  curved,  contiguous  at 
the  base,  but  with  age  they  resemble  pentagonal  or  hexagonal 
cushions  which  clothe  the  branch  like  a  cuirass.  In  this  state 
they  have  been  mistaken  for  the  cones  of  Cycads  or  Conifers.  The 
leaf  scars  resemble  those  of  Lepidodendron.  The  fruits  are 
unknown,  and  therefore  the  systematic  position  is  uncertain. 
They  are  generally  Oolitic  fossils. 

Brachyphyllurti  {?)  australe.  Feistmantel  (I.e.,  p.  98,  plate  7, 
figs.  3  to  6,  and  plate  17.)  Branchlets  elongate,  slender,  flexuous, 
much  branched,  leaves  spirally  disposed,  squamiform,  rhomboid- 
oblong,  somewhat  thick,  apex  acuminate,  sub-keeled  and  a  little 
flattened,  amentum  covered  with  sub-rhomboid,  acute,  acuminate 
scales,  the  apex  somewhat  flattened  and  spirally  disposed. 

The  form  and  position  of  the  leaves  corresponds  well  with  the 
typical  species  of  Brachyphyllum.  Several  specimens  of  this  fossil 
were  found  in  the  Eskbank  and  Lithgow  collieries. 

BrachypJiylluin  australe,  var.  or  n.s.,  c7'assiom,  nobis,  Plate  5. 
Brong,  Prod.,  p.  19,  Mamillaria  desnoyersii,  Ann.  Sc.  Nat.  pi.  19, 
fig  9.  linger.  Gen.  et  Spec,  p.  308  (included  amongst  cycadacese). 
Branches  and  branchlets  rigid,  coarse  and  thick,  leaves  more  or  less 
irregular  in  shape,  and  mammillately  shield-like,  bases  contiguous, 
5  to  6  angled.  Schimper  separates  this  fossil  from  B.  mamillare, 
Lind.  and  Hutton,  which  is  much  more  slender  and  with  more 
numerous  branches.  It  is  found  abundantly  in  the  Oolite  of 
Oxford,  Wiltshire,  Yorkshire,  and  in  several  places  in  France. 
The  above  is  Schimper' s  definition. 

In  the  Geological  Magazine  for  1869  (vol.  6)  there  are  figs,  at 
PI.  ii.,  figs  12,  13,  of  branches  of  a  coniferous  plant,  which  Schimper 
identifies  with  this  species.  That  which  I  distinguish  as  a  variety  of 
the  same,  may  be  thus  described.  Plant  robust,  thick,  stem  and 
branches,  repeatedly  dichotomous.  Leaves  thick  and  fleshy, 
densely  crowded,  homodromous,  short,  broad,  obtuse,  conspicuously 
keeled,  erect,  closely  imbricate,  but  slightly  sjDreading.  Branches 
and  branchlets  very  little  narrower  than  the  parent  stem,  and  of 
equal  width  to  the  summit.     All  portions  of  the  plant  curved. 


160      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

Tliree  leaves  visible  in  each  spiral.  About  three  rows  in  a  centi- 
meter. Length  of  leaves,  from  2  to  3  mill. ;  breadth,  from  5  to  6. 
Diam.  of  caiiline  stem  at  widest  part,  10  mill ;  of  branchlets,  8 
mill.  ;  length  of  shortest,  18  mill. 

Amongst  the  fragments  imbedded  around,  there  are  some  with 
rhomboidal  depressions  like  le^Didodendroid  scars.  These  are  stems 
from  which  the  leaves  have  been  shed.  They  are  about  30  mill, 
long  and  2  wide. 

Ipswich  coal,  the  only  specimen  I  have  seen. 

Taxites.     Brongniart. 

Leaves  linear,  narrow,  or  sub-falcate,  obtuse,  coriaceous,  fleshy, 
with  a  median  rib  ending  in  a  minute  mucrone,  flat,  furnished  with 
a  half-twisted  pedicel  which  is  briefly  decurrent. 

This  is  a  mesozoic  genus  of  few  known  forms,  about  some  of 
which  Schimper  says  that  he  would  not  venture  to  ofi*er  an  opinion. 
No  doubt  it  includes  difi*erent  genera  as  those  groups  known 
only  by  the  form  of  the  leaf  must  necessarily  do.  They  are 
known  from  Italy  and  Greenland,  besides  two  species  from  the 
Upper  Gondwana  system  (Jabulpiir,  Sripermattir,  and  other 
places)  on  the  Madras  coast.  The  general  habit  and  form  of  the 
leaves  shows  that  we  are  dealing  with  plants  closely  allied  to  our 
living  species  of  Taxus  or  Yew. 

Taxites  medius,  n.s.,  PI  9,  fig.  3.  Branchlets  thin,  leaflets 
spirally  and  bilaterally  disposed,  emerging  at  an  acute  angle,  sub- 
alternate,  sometimes  slightly  curved  outwards,  narrow  linear, 
obtuse,  rather  long,  and  the  decurrent  pedicel  thick,  long,  and 
broad  (nearly  as  broad  as  the  leaf  at  times).  Midrib  thick  and 
conspicuous,  surface  shining  and  transversely  wrinkled.  Ipswich, 
Q.  L.,  precise  locality  unknown. 

This  specimen  is  on  a  stone  which  has  impressions  of  EquisetuTn 
stems  and  Thinnjeldia  odontopteroides.  The  fossil  is  conspicuously 
shining,  no  doubt  from  its  coriaceous  surface,  the  wrinkling  of  the 
leaves  is  due  to  their  fleshy  nature.  The  number  of  detached 
leaflets  scattered  on  the  stone  manifest  their  deciduous  attachment. 
I  name  the  specimen  from  its  intermediate  character  between  the 


BY    THE    REV.  J.   E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  161 

two  Indian  forms,  T.  tenerrimus,  Feistm.,  which  has  very  slnall 
horizontal  leaflets,  and  T.  planus  which  has  also  horizontal  leaflets 
but  much  longer  and  broader. 

Sequoiites.     Carr. 

Named  from  the  close  connection  with  Sequoia,  Endlicher,  a 
genus  of  splendid  trees  of  gigantic  height,  separated  from  Taxodium 
on  account  of  the  non-deciduous  leaves,  and  the  seeds  being  from 
3  to  5  in  each  scale.  Leaves  subulate,  flat  or  scale-like  in  two 
rows.  Flowers  moncecious,  male  and  female  separate,  but  on  the 
same  plant,  solitary  and  terminal  in  the  living  {S.  sempervirens 
Endl,  the  Calif ornian  Redwood),  but  axillary  in  the  fossil  species. 
Anthers  numerous,  bilocular,  connective  peltoid.  Female  amentum 
terminal,  densely  covered  with  imbricate  scales.  Cones  small, 
sub-globular,  or  obtusely  oval  and  woody,  the  scales  inserted 
almost  horizontally,  wedge-shaped  and  truncate.  Seeds  (in  the 
fossil  species)  5  to  7,  affixed  to  the  base  of  each  scale,  and  winged 
nearly  all  round. 

This  genus  is  by  most  botanists  made  to  include  Wellingtonia, 
from  which  it  can  only  be  distinguished  by  the  seeds  being  always 
as  stated,  and  not  four  in  number.  The  leaves  are  flat  and  yew- 
like, while  in  Wellingtonia,  they  have  always  a  triangular  section, 
and  are  closely  imbricated.  Sequoia  sempervirens  and  gigantea, 
Lindley,  are  the  only  living  species.  The  first  is  spread  over  all 
the  mountains  of  the  west  side  of  North  America  and  in  the  south 
of  California.  The  other  species  is  limited  to  a  few  places  in 
California.  Amongst  the  fossil  species,  S.  langsdorffii  cannot 
be  distinguished  from  the  living  S.  sempervirens.  It  occurs  in  the 
Miocene  strata  of  Switzerland,  Vienna,  Berne,  Italy,  and  Eastern 
Europe.  It  also  occurs  amid  plant  remains  of  similar  age  in 
Vancouver's  Island,  and  on  the  edge  of  the  Polar  regions.  S. 
sternhergii  (tertiary)  approaches  S.  gigantea,  while  S.  couttesioi  is 
a  medium  between  the  two.  The  earliest  recorded  appearance  of 
the  genus  is  in  the  Cretaceous  period. 

To  this  species  I  am  inclined  to  refer  a  species  which  appears  to 
be  very  common  in  the  plant  beds  of  Rosewood  near  Rockhampton 

L 


162      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

where  it  is  associated  with  Ptilophyllum  oligoneurum.  It  is  of 
course  only  an  approximate  identification,  as  no  cones,  either  male 
or  female  have  been  hitherto  discovered.  I  think  they  should  be 
abundant  from  the  number  of  the  leaves,  but  as  yet  the  beds  have 
been  only  explored  by  myself,  and  I  merely  collected  stones  from  the 
surface.  I  give  the  plant  therefore  a  name  provisionally,  not 
meaning  to  pronounce  positively  upon  its  characters,  but  only  its 
resemblances.  If  the  surmise — for  I  can  call  it  little  better  than 
a  surmise — be  verified,  it  will  be  the  first  time  that  Sequoiites  has 
been  identified  south  of  the  equator.  This  however  will  not  be 
so  surprising  since  the  genus  Phyllocladus  of  Tasmania  extends 
into  Borneo  and  Arthrotaxis  of  the  southern  hemisphere  can 
hardly  be  separated  from  the  Chinese  Gunninghamia.  We  have  no 
Australian  Conifer  with  leaves  similar  to  Sequoia  except  Podo- 
carpus,  but  though  in  some  species  of  that  genus  the  foliage  is 
long,  flat,  and  with  a  prominent  midrib,  there  is  a  distinct  petiole 
which  in  this  fossil  is  wanting. 

Sequoiites  (?)  australis,  n.  s.  Leaves  very  close,  two  rowed  (?) 
spread  out,  flat,  alternate,  straight,  rarely  falcate,  smooth  above, 
midrib  prominent  below,  rounded  at  the  apex,  towards  which  there 
is  only  a  very  slight  tapering,  not  contracted  at  the  base  but 
becoming  a  sheath,  down  the  centre  of  which  the  midrib  can  be 
distinctly  traced,  from  20  to  25  millimetres  long,  and  IJ  wide, 
but  much  shorter  and  smaller  near  the  extremities  of  the  shoots, 
where  they  are  somewhat  imbricated  all  round  the  branch,  and 
loosely  spiral.  The  sheathing  base  of  the  leaves  gives  rise  to  a 
jointed  appearance  to  the  stem.  Length  of  longest  fragment  91 
millim,,  on  which  there  were  about  50  leaves ;  width  about  25 
millim.,  at  base  tapering  to  8  mill.     PI.  7,  fig.  5, 

Ord.  Abietace^.     Fam.  Walckije. 

Schimper  says  that  it  was  the  system  for  a  long  time  to  place  in 
genus  Araucarites  every  impression  of  the  branches  of  Conifers 
whose  leaves  showed  some  resemblance  to  the  leaves  of  Araucaria 
of  the  group  Exit  acta.  A  better  acquaintance  with  these  plants, 
which  arose  from  the  discovery  of  inflorescence  and  fruits  enabled 
paleontologists  to  show  that  most  of  the  species  had  nothing  in 


BY    THE    REV.  J.  E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  163 

common  with  Araucaria  except  tlie  leaves  and  the  structure  of  the 
wood.  In  other  respects  they  were  found  to  belong  to  many 
widely  separated  families.  The  genus  Araucarites  is  now  restricted 
by  Schimper  to  two  species.  In  referring  as  I  do  to  the  following 
s])ecies  to  the  genus  Walchia,  I  do  so  mainly  because  of  the 
general  similarity  of  the  leaves,  and  the  structure  of  the  male 
amentum  to  which  I  shall  presently  refer.  Otherwise  the  resem- 
blance is  to  Araucaria  as  far  as  the  leaves  go. 
Walchia.     Sternberg. 

Arborescent  plants  of  the  habit  Araucaria  of  the  sections 
Eutacta^  or  Dacrydium,  branches  pinnate,  ramulose,  branchlet.s 
alternating  and  spreading.  Leaves  of  two  kinds,  the  shorter  ovate 
or  linear  imbricate,  the  longer  linear  lanceolate  and  gathered  into  a 
tuft,  incurved  at  the  apex,  or  falcate  and  erect  from  the  base,  sub- 
decurrently  spreading,  keeled  on  the  back  and  finely  striate. 
Cones  terminal,  oblong,  cylindrical  or  elongate,  scales  ovate- 
acuminate  or  lanceolate,  seed  solitary  in  each  scale,  ovate, 
minutely  apiculate.  Male  amentum  (J)  composite,  anthers  axillary, 
oval. 

Schimper  says  of  the  genus  that  it  partakes  of  the  character  of 
Araucaria  and  was  for  a  long  time  regarded  as  a  Lycopod  in  spite  of 
its  different  mode  of  ramification.  {Lycopodites,  Brongniart  and 
linger.)  With  t^/^mannm  it  is  characteristic  of  Permian  period. 
They  are  the  most  ancient  Conifers  of  which  the  leaves  and  fruits 
are  found,  though  coniferous  wood  occurs  in  the  oldest  paleozoic 
carboniferous  formations.  The  two  genera  named  disappear  in 
Europe  at  the  close  of  the  Permian.  Voltzia,  Albertia  and  Glyp- 
tolejyis  take  their  place  in  the  Trias. 

Walchia  milneana,  n.s.  Plate  2,  fig.  3.  Branches  obtuse,  leaves 
very  closely  imbricate,  spirally  disposed  so  as  to  leave  three  to  four 
visible  in  each  spiral  ;  falcate,  acuminate,  breadth  at  base,  half  the 
length,  mucronate,  in  young  branches,  obtuse  in  the  older  ones, 
curving  together  in  linear  scale-like  leaves  at  the  top. 

*  In  this  section  Euctata  the  cones  are  small,  terminal  and  globular ; 
unequal  shaped  and  small.  In  Dacrijdium  the  fruit  is  fleshy  and  erect,  and 
the  leaves  acicular  or  scales  and  opposite.  The  Araucarias  moreover  differ 
from  the  pines  and  firs  in  having  the  sexes  on  separate  trees. 


164      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 

By  the  side  of  one  of  the  specimens,  there  is  the  end  of  a 
branchlet,  which  for  a  part  of  its  course  has  crowded  narrow 
leaves,  much  longer  than  the  others.  There  is  also  a  fragment 
whose  leaves  are  broad  and  acuminated.  Number  of  leaves  visible 
in  a  branchlet,  25  mill.,  long,  16.  Average  length  5  mill.,  width 
2  to  2^  mill.  The  narrow  long  leaves  referred  to,  are  10  mill,  long 
by  1  mill.  wide. 

From  Ballinore  coal  field,  Talbragar  near  Dubbo,  where  it 
appears  to  be  abundant. 

With  the  branches  and  stems  are  associated  certain  remains, 
which  I  regard  as  the  male  amenta,  of  which  a  figure  is  given  at 
PL  6,  figs.  7,  8.  They  are  distichous  spikes,  with  closely  set 
scale-like  bracts  in  pairs,  lying  closely  together  and  projecting  in  a 
long  thin  scale,  like  the  glume  of  wheat,  within  this  there  is  a  scale 
with  four  distinct  projections  like  a  comb,  within  these  may  have 
been  situate  the  anthers.  In  Goeppert's  Foss.  Flor.,  d.  Perm. 
Form.,  pi.  49,  fig.  13,  there  is  a  figure  of  what  has  been  regarded 
as  the  male  amentum  of  Walchia  2)iniformis,  Sternberg,  in  which 
these  peculiar  teeth  on  the  scale  are  given  on  the  summit  of  the 
figure. 

CUNNINGHAMITES.       Prcsl. 

These  Conifers  are  distinguished  by  their  general  resemblance  to 
the  genus  Cunnhighamia,  R.  Brown,  a  genus  only  known  by  one 
living  species,  which  is  the  common  native  fir  of  China.  It  is 
thus  described  :  Leaves  lanceolate,  quite  entire,  flat,  sessile,  spread- 
ing, rigid,  pungent,  bent  downwards,  one  inch  and  a  half  long, 
and  disposed  all  round  the  branches  and  stems  except  on  the  old 
lateral  ones  where  they  are  arranged  in  two  rows.  Branches 
generally  in  whorls,  lower  ones  horizontal,  but  those  near  the  top 
ascending.  Branchlets  opposite  in  two  rows  and  spreading.  Male 
catkins,  terminal  in  clusters,  cylindrical  and  near  an  inch  long. 
Cones  globular,  three  or  four  together,  but  sometimes  solitary, 
sessile,  drooping,  smooth,  and  about  the  size  of  a  walnut.  Scales 
ovate,  tapering  to  a  sharp  point,  leathery,  sharply  denticulated  on 
the  margins,  thin  and  free  at  the  points. 


BY   THE    REV.  J.  E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S. 

Three  fossil  species  are  known  in  Europe,  all  from  Cretaceous 
rocks,  and  one  from  the  Lower  Jura  or  Upper  Lias  coal  beds  of 
India.  It  was  named  C.  incequifolius,  Oldham  and  Morris,  but 
Feistmantel  thinking  the  name  inappropriate  changed  it  to 
C.  duhiosus.  The  specimen  is  very  imperfect.  See  Foss.,  Flor., 
Gondwana,  vol.  1,  p.  140,  pi.  33,  fig.  3,  4.  Also  Lindl.  andHutt., 
Foss.,  Fl.,  vol.  II.,  pi.  127,  where  there  is  a  figure  of  the  living 
species  with  an  axillary  cone.  Also  Goeppert,  Monogr.,  d.  foss., 
Coniferen,  pi.  47,  fig.  5. 

In  the  specimens  found  at  Rosewood,  Ipswich,  there  are  two  or 
three  with  male  amenta  in  terminal  clusters  which  are  figured  here 
rendering  the  identification  of  the  genus  much  more  certain.  The 
leaves,  however,  are  seldom  entire,  which  gives  the  appearance  of 
an  obtuse  or  unequal  foliage  which  is  seen  in  the  Indian  fossil. 

Cunninghamites  australis,  n.  s.  Plate  3,  fig.  1,  2,  3,  plate  4, 
fig.  1.  Leaves  long,  linear,  pointed,  decurrent,  entire.  Male 
amenta  in  rather  thick  corrugated  clusters  at  the  ends  of  the 
branches.  Generally  two  of  the  amenta  are  alone  distinct  in  the 
fossil,  but  others  can  always  be  traced  in  the  centre  :  they  are 
curved. 

Abundant  in  a  pale,  yellowish  shale,  at  Rosewood,  where  no 
doubt  a  careful  search  would  enable  us  to  restore  the  plant  com- 
pletely. 

Pine  Fruits. 

Araucarites  (?)  polycarpa,  n.  s.  I  give  this  name  to  a  fruit 
cone,  of  which  a  figure  is  given  at  PI.  10,  fig.  1.  It  was  found  in  a 
conglomerate  partly  derived  from  the  coal  beds  of  the  Burnett 
River,  Q.  L.,  but  it  may  be  of  subsequent  date  or  even  Tertiary. 
It  is  an  ironstone  (limonite)  concretion.  The  inside  of  the  fruit 
has  been  dissolved,  leaving  a  cast  of  the  external  portion  beau- 
tifully preserved,  except  where  it  is  covered  by  a  black  vitreous 
iron  ore  which  fills  the  centre.  The  whole  formed  a  brown  water- 
worn  stone,  which  being  broken  across  in  making  the  railway 
ballast  discovered  the  fossil  inside. 


166      ON  THE  FOSSIL  FLORA  OF  THE  COAL  DEPOSITS  OF  AUSTRALIA, 


Explanation  of  Plates. 

Note. — The  heliotypes  though  at  first  sight  indistinct,  will  bear 
examination  with  a  hand  lens,  when  all  the  detail  will  be  distinctly 
seen.  Type  specimens  of  all  new  species,  except  Sph.  hayleyana, 
are  in  the  Macleayan  Museum. 

Plate  I. 

Fig.  1.    Vertehraria  towarrensis. 

2.  Ditto  ditto. 

3.  Vertehraria  equiseti. 

4.  Vertehraria  towarrensis. 

Plate  II. 

Fig.  1.  Equisetum  latum. 

2.  Sphenopteris  Jlahellata.f  var.  erecta. 

3.  Walchia  milneana. 


Plate  III. 

Fig.  1.  Cunninghamites  australis. 

2.  Ditto  terminal  branch  with  cluster  of  male  amenta. 

3.  Portion  of  branch  of  same. 

4.  Sphenopteris  crehra. 

5.  Male  amentum  of  Walchia  Tnihiearta. 

6.  Gleichenia  lineata, 

7.  Trichomanides  spinifolius. 

Plate  IY. 

Fig.   1.  Cunninghamites  australis. 

2.  Sphenopteris  hayleyana, 

3.  Jeanpaulia  hidens. 

4.  Sphenopteris  glossophylla. 

Plate  V. 
Brachyphyllum  crassum. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.  E.   TENISON-WOODS,  F.L.S.,  F.G.S.  167 

Plate  VI. 

Fig.  1 .  Thinnfeldla  media,  ^-nat.  size. 

2.  Merianopteris  major,  J-nat.  size. 

3.  Ditto  pinnule  enlarged. 

4.  Alethopteris  Gurrani. 

5.  Equisetum  rotiferum. 

6.  Ditto  diaphragm. 

7.  Walchia  milneana. 

8.  Ditto  male  amentum. 

9.  Phyllotlieca  concinna,  sheath  leaves. 

Plate  VII. 

Fig.  1.   Cunninghamites  australis.,  male  amenta. 

2.  Ptilophyllum  oligoneurum. 

3.  Ditto  ditto. 

4.  Ditto  single  leaflet  enlarged. 

5.  Sequoiites  australis. 

Plate  VIII. 

Fig.  1.  Thinnfeldla  falcata. 

2.  Gleichenia  lineata. 

3.  Podozamites  distans. 

4.  Neuropteris  (Aneimidium)  australis 

Plate  IX. 

Fig.  1.  Alethopteris  concinna. 

2.  Phyllotheca  carnosa. 

3.  Taxites  medius. 

4.  Sagenopteris  rhoijolia. 

Plate  X. 

Fig.  1.  Araucarites  polycarpa. 
2.   Trichomanides  laxum. 


Plate  Xa. 
Macrotceniopteris  wianamattce. 


168  contributions  to  the  flora  of  queensland, 

Contributions  to  the  Flora  of   Queensland. 
BY  THE  Rev.  B.  Scortechini,  F.L.S. 

Daring  a  short  stay  at  Stantliorpe,  a  township  situated  in  Queens- 
land, near  the  borders  of  New  South  Wales,  I  happened  to  make 
several  botanical  excursions  in  its  neighbourhood,  and  being  for- 
tunate in  discovering  a  few  plants  new  to  the  Queensland  Flora,  I 
hasten  to  communicate  to  this  Society  the  result  of  my  observations. 
The  inland  as  well  as  the  littoral  south  Queensland  districts  need 
to  be  more  thoroughly  searched  before  a  complete  Flora  of  the 
colony  can  be  worked  out,  not  to  mention  that  many  valuable  addi- 
tions may  be  expected  both  from  the  northern  and  western  regions. 
In  drawing  up  a  list  of  these  plants,  I  have  availed  myself  of  the 
systematic  census  of  all  Australian  plants  now  with  great  care  and 
much  assiduous  labour,  elaborated  by  Baron  von  Mueller,  to  the  great 
advantage  of  Australian  Botany.  Thus,  it  was  an  easy  matter  to 
discard  from  the  present  list  any  species,  which  other  workers  in 
the  field  might  have  found  about  the  same  locality.  Only  such 
plants  therefore,  are  here  admitted  as  the  latest  data  of  our  know- 
ledge in  geological  botany  have  not  hitherto  attributed  to  Queens- 
land. 

The  vicinity  of  Stanthorpe  where  these  plants  were  obtained, 
stands  on  elevated  gi'ound.  The  elevation  from  the  sea  level 
attains  something  like  3,000  feet.  Snow  and  frost  are  not 
strangers  there  in  the  winter  season,  while  the  summer  months 
are  more  enjoyable  there,  than  in  any  other  spot  in  Queensland. 
Colonists  who  to  avoid  the  summer  heat,  resort  to  the  sea  coast, 
would  do  well  to  spend  these  days  on  the  high  elevations  of 
Stanthorpe.  It  is  the  lofty  region  of  the  Blue  Mountains  that 
Sydney  afibrds  to  its  inhabitants  when  in  quest  of  pure  air,  and 
bracing  climate.  The  modest  scenery  around  Stanthorpe  cannot 
be  indeed  compared  with  the  grand  awe-inspiring  scenes  which 
are  seen  amid  the  Blue  Mountains.  Still  here  and  there  nature 
displays  such  sights  as  are  not  easily  forgotten,  and  the  lover  of 
plants  finds  here  much  to  gratify  his  heart. 


I 


BY    THE    REV.  B.  SCORTECHINI,  F.L.S.  169 

The  geological  formation  of  the  country  is  granite.  It  is  a 
continuation  of  the  main  axis  of  the  eastern  table  land,  rich  in 
mineral  deposits.  It  differs  from  the  Blue  Mountains,  which  are 
sandstone,  although  the  detritus  of  both  look  much  the  same.  It 
is  very  striking  to  meet  several  sub-alpine  plants  common  to  both. 
From  which  we  may  safely  infer  that  the  character  of  vegetations 
depends  more  on  climatic  agencies,  than  on  the  nature  of  the  soil. 

It  may  be  well  to  note  here,  that  nearly  every  one  of  the  plants 
of  which  I  subjoin  a  list,  was  discovered  by  Mr.  C.  Stuart,  in  the 
adjoining  district  of  New  England,   within  the  borders  of  New 

South  Wales. 

Rhamnace^. 

Pomaderris  prunifolia.     A.  Cunn. 

Close  by  a  rivulet  that  wends  its  way  through  rocky  ridges  a 
short  distance  north  of  Stanthorpe,  a  tall  straggling  shrub 
growing  abundantly  in  company  with  Acacia  decurrens,  Melaleuca 
and  Leptosperniunn. 

Leguminos^. 

Mirhelia  speciosa.     Sib.  in  Dl.  Prod,  ii.,  115. 

Judging  from  the  general  aspect,  the  verticillate  leaves  and  pods, 
the  identification  of  the  specimens  gathered  among  barren  rocks 
with  this  species  seems  nearly  certain.  Flowers  were  wanting. 
While  it  is  very  abundant  on  the  Blue  Mountains,  it  appears  very 
scarce  around  Stanthorpe,  at  least  in  those  places  which  have  been 
visited.  C.  Stuart  has  traced  it  to  New  England.  The  further  it 
removes  from  its  central  home,  the  Blue  Mountains,  the  less 
copious  it  becomes,  till  at  a  lower  altitude,  or  more  northerly 
directions  it  ceases  to  grow. 

Myrtace^. 

Baeckea  densifolia.     Sm.  in  Tran.  Linn.  Soc.  iii.,  266. 

On  wet  clayish  flats,  growing  side  by  side  with  the  small-leaved 
variety  of  its  congener  B.  crenulata,  with  which  it  shares  the 
general  habit.  Yet  close  inspection  discloses  a  very  marked 
difference  in  the  leaves,  in  the  number,  shape,  and  dehiscence  of 
the  anthers,  in  the  form  of  filaments,  and  above  all,  in  the  number 
of  the  ovary  cells.     It  is  nearer  to  B.  virgata,  with  which  it  is 


170  CONTRIBUTIONS    TO    THE    FLORA    OF    QUEENSLAND, 

classed  under  the  same  section,  yet  inflorescence  and  form  of  leaves 
separate  them  both  one  from  the  other.  It  is  distinct  too,  at  any 
rate  as  a  variety  from  B.  Nova-anglica,  or  Bahingtonia  Nova- 
anglica  of  Mueller  gathered  in  New  Zealand.  The  smallness  of 
the  flowers,  the  obtuse  and  not  turbinate  shape  of  the  calyx  at  the 
base  point  to  the  typical  form. 

Callistemon  pithyoides,  Mig.  in  Ned.  Kruidk.  Arch,  iv.,  142. 

What  I  forwarded  to  Baron  von  Miiller  as  a  doubtful 
Melaleuca,  he  recognises  as  this  species,  of  which  other  specimens 
had  been  sent  to  him  with  perfect  flowers  from  other  quarters. 
"While  the  flowers  of  this  plant  remained  unknown,  in  generic 
position  it  was  hovering  between  a  Callistemon  and  a  Melaleuca. 
Miguel  with  some  hesitation,  throws  it  among  the  Callistemons, 
while  in  Baron  von  Miiller' s  Herbarium,  it  was  named  Melaleuca. 
The  inspection  of  flowers  now  dispels  all  doubts  as  to  its  being  a 
Callistemon,  and  it  must  henceforth  be  placed  in  that  genus.  On 
swampy  ground,  a  low  bush  bearing  the  aspect  of  a  stunted 
Melaleuca  nodosa  may  be  seen  growing  near  Stanthorpe,  close  by 
the  creek,  or  a  few  miles  away  at  a  short  distance  from  the  foot  of 
a  hillock,  enjoying  the  more  pretentious  name  of  Blue  Mountains. 
It  is  our  Callistemon.  At  the  time  of  my  ramble  the  rather  copious 
individuals  of  this  species  scattered  all  over  the  swamps  had  done 
flowering.  Only  here  and  there  some  stray  young  shoot  was 
lagging  behind  to  yield  scanty  blossoms. 

Melaleuca  armillaris  Sm.  in  Trans.  Linn.  Soc.  iii.,  277. 

A  handsome  free  flowering  shrub,  growing  in  abundance  along 
the  banks  of  Quart  Pot  Creek.  The  general  aspect  is  that  of 
M.  linearifolia  of  the  semi-tropical  coast  districts,  with  which  at 
the  first  sight  I  had  confused  it.  The  arrangement  of  the  leaves, 
the  much  longer  staminal  bundles,  with  long  slender  filaments, 
pinnately  set,  and  the  very  loose  flowering  spikes  separate  it  from 
M.  linearifolia,  although  both  are  united  under  the  same  section  of 
spicijlorae. 

Eucalyptus  capitellata  Sin.  Bot.  Nov.  Holl.  42.  var. 

A  tree  of  not  very  imposing  dimensions  growing  chiefly  on  flats 
close  to  Stanthorpe.     Whether  I  am  right  in  referring  it  to  this 


BY    THE    REV.   B.   SCORTECHINI,  F.L.S.  171 

species  further  observation  will  decide.  The  exact  sameness  of 
the  fruiting  calyx,  and  shape  of  leaves  would  make  it  pass  for  E.  capi- 
tellata  without  any  doubt.  Yet  there  is  a  divergence  in  the  shape 
of  the  lid  which  comes  near  that  of  E.  macrorrhynca,  with 
which  E.  caintellata  is  closely  allied.  The  operculum  of  the  Stan- 
thorpe  specimens  is  neither  so  conical  as  that  of  E.  maGrorrhynca, 
or  so  hemispherical  as  that  of  E.  capitellata.  The  excellent 
figures  of  both  species  drawn  for  Baron  v.  Mueller's  imperishable 
work  on  Eucalyptus  when  compared  with  our  specimens  render 
this  fact  evident.  As  all  other  characters  agree  with  E.  capitellata, 
the  departure,  not  great  indeed,  in  the  shape  of  the  operculum  will 
warrant  the  distinction  as  a  variety  from  the  normal  E  capitellata. 

Umbellifer^. 

Actinotus  Gihhonsii  F.  v.  M.  Frag.  VI,  23. 

The  only  other  station  recorded  for  this  plant  is  M'Leod's  Creek 
in  New  England,  where  E.  Stuart  first  discovered  it.  It  may  be 
passed  over  unnoticed  by  any  collector  owing  to  its  humble  decum- 
bent habit,  and  strongly  contrasts  with  its  more  showy  congener 
G.  helianthi  Labill.  This  may  be  seen  growing  close  by,  on  long 
stalks,  the  snow  white  softly  velvety  flower  heads,  while  the  sessile 
umbels  among  rocks  make  the  small  species  easily  escape  observa- 
tion 

COMPOSITiE. 

Aster  ramulssus  Labill.,  Nov.  Holl.  PI.  sp.  51. 

At  the  time  this  plant  was  collected  the  florets  and  achenes  were 
gone,  only  the  scarious  involucre  remaining,  this,  the  habit  of  the 
plant,  and  leaves,  have  been  the  only  clue  leading  to  its  discrimina- 
tion. Abundant  on  those  granite  hillocks  which  form  quite  a 
feature  of  the  Stanthorpe  scenery. 

Brachycome  discolor,  C.  Stuart  in  Benth.  Fl.  Austr. 

Brachycome  Stuartii  Benth.  Fl.  Aust.  Ill,  S.B. 

Brachycome  ciliaris,  Less  syn.,  comp.  172. 

Three  Brachycomes,  which  along  with  B.  multifida  grow  together 
on  damp  flats,  not  far  from  Stanthorpe.  The  redness  of  the  under 
side  of  the  leaves  of  B.  discolor,   as   noticed  by  E.  Stuart,  is  very 


172  CONTRIBUTIONS    TO    THE    FLORA    OF    QUEENSLAND, 

apparent  in  fresh  specimens.  B.  multifida  was  first  collected  by 
me  within  Queensland  borders  on  the  Maranoa  about  twelve 
months  ago.  Within  a  short  time  there  have  been  four  species  of 
Brachycome  added  to  the  scanty  number  of  species  already  known 
to  belong  to  Queensland.  Further  additions  may  be  expected  of 
the  thirty-eight  species  recorded  for  Australia.  New  South  Wales 
musters  the  largest  number,  thirty-one  being  endemic  there, 
whereas  Queensland,  even  including  those  newly  discovered 
possesses  no  more  than  eight  species  :  considering  therefore  that 
the  head  quarters  of  the  genus  lies  in  temperate  climate  we 
may  expect  more  species  in  the  cool  regions  within  Queensland 
boundaries. 

Leptorrhyncus  squamatus  Less.  Syn.,  comp.,  273. 

The  same  plant  has  been  seen  by  me  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Roma.  Around  Stanthorpe  it  is  rather  scarce.  It  has  been 
noticed  in  two  or  three  places  close  to  the  creek  that  runs  by 
Stanthorpe. 

GOODENACEAE. 

Dampiera  Brownii,  F  v.  M.  Frag.  YI  ,29. 

Only  few  specimens  of  this  species  were  obtained  near  a  gully 
about  a  mile  from  Stanthorpe.  Under  this  specific  designation 
several  varieties  are  now  grouped,  which  were  once  considered  by 
K.  Brown  as  distinct  species.  What  I  gathered  on  the  Blue 
Mountains  as  D.  Brownii  on  many  minor  points  shows  a  divergence 
from  the  Stanthorpe  specimens. 

LOGANIACEJE. 

Logania  Jlorihunda.^  R.  Br.  Prod.  456. 
Along  a  streamlet  which  wends  its  way  to  Quart-pot  creek  among 
rocks  a  few  individuals  of  this  species  may  be  seen  growing  with 
Fomaderris  2?runifolia,  Acacia  decurrens,  LejMospermum,  &c.  At 
the  time  when  my  collection  was  made  the  flowers  were  gone, 
giving  place  to  the  capsule  which  has  been  a  secure  guide  to  its 
identification.  The  same  plant  I  have  gathered  on  the  Blue 
Mountains. 


by  the  rev.  b.  scortechini,  f.l.s.  173 

Jasmines. 

Notelea  linearis,  Benth.  Fl.  Austr.  iv.  300. 

Very  plentiful  down  the  creek  a  short  distance  from  town, 
growing  among  boulders.  The  dark  red,  and  occasionally  white 
drupes,  which  were  rather  abundant  on  the  branches,  have 
been  the  only  data  remaining  for  the  determination  of  the  species. 

Proteace^. 

Hakea  microcarpa,  R.  Br.  in  Trans.  Linn.  Soc,  X,  182. 

The  flowers  were  not  obtainable  to  see  the  sectional  characters 
of  this  species,  still  the  leaves,  the  horned  fruit,  and  form  of  seed 
wing  afford  enough  evidence  for  its  recognition.  Rather  plentiful 
along  the  sandy  banks  of  the  creek. 

Hakea  dactyloides  Cav.,  Ann.,  Hist.,  Nat.,  I,  213. 

Unfortunately  the  flowers  of  this  species  too  were  wanting  at 
the  time  the  specimens  were  collected.  By  a  process  of  analytical 
reasoning  alone  I  was  able  to  arrive  at  framing  a  nearly  certain 
estimate  as  to  the  identity  of  the  specimens  with  H.  dactyloides. 
Of  section  Gi^evilloides  to  H.  trineura  alone  it  could  approach,  but 
the  short  clusters  of  flowers  as  the  position  of  the  fruits  suggest 
remove  it  not  alone  from  H.  trineura,  but  from  the  whole  section. 
In  section  Euhakea  there  is  no  species  either  eastern  or  western 
with  flat,  triply  nerved  leaves,  such  as  our  Hakea  possesses.  The 
three  first  series  of  section  Conogynoides,  including  all  western 
species,  afford  no  type  to  which  our  plant  can  be  referred.  The 
last  three  series  of  the  same  section,  that  is  JJydnerves,  Enerves,  and 
Teretifolice,  as  their  very  name  implies,  exclude  this  three  nerve 
leaved  Hakea,  as  also  the  last  sectioja  of  Manglesioides,  including 
all  western,  and  either  terete  or  nerveless  leaved  Hakeas.  There  thus 
remains  only  the  series  Nervosae  of  Conogynoides  sheltering  species 
with  leaves  lanceolate  or  linear,  three  or  more  nerved,  where  our 
specimens  may  find  a  place.  Pursuing  the  same  process  of  com- 
parison further  within  the  precincts  of  this  series,  we  come  face  to 
face  with  H.  dactyloides  offering  much  resemblance,  if  not  entire 
identity  with  our  plant.  Minor  points  of  difference  are  the  rather 
curved  beak  of  the  fruit  instead  of  being  straight  as  described,  the 
narrowness  or  total  absence  of  the  wing  decurrent  on  the  upper 


174  CONTRIBUTIONS    TO    THE    FLORA    OP   QUEENSLAND, 

margin  of  the  seed  ;  the  length  and  narrowness  of  leaves  slightly- 
departing  from  the  normal  form.  There  are  specimens  of  H.  dacty- 
loides  collected  by  C.  Stuart  in  New  England,  having  rigid  narrow 
leaves  nearly  approaching  those  of  H.  ulicina,  to  which  specimens 
ours  appear  to  be  very  similar. 

Grevillea  ilici folia,  E-.  Br.,  Prot.,  Nov.  21,  var.,  Scortechini^ 
F.  V,  M.,  Mss. 
On  the  sandy  banks  of  a  deep  gully.  Its  trailing  habit  un- 
common for  the  species,  which  is  described  as  a  large  spreading 
shrub,  the  second  racemes  of  flowers,  the  silvery  underside  of  the 
leaves  would  at  once  suggest  G.  laurifolia  of  frequent  occurrence 
on  the  Blue  Mountains,  or  G.  repens  of  more  southern  latitudes, 
or  something  between  the  two.  It  is  a  very  marked  variety  of 
G.  ilicifolia.  Any  botanist  adopting  less  rigid  views  than  Baron 
von  Mueller  on  the  nature  of  species  would  perhaps  have  raised  it 
to  specific  rank.  My  impression  was  that  its  prostrate  habit,  the 
distance  from  where  G.  ilicifolia  has  its  home  with  no  inter- 
mediate stations,  the  rather  more  hemispherical  than  oblique 
follicle  covered  with  a  white  tomentum  which  on  the  back  turns 
deep  purple  in  irregular  lines,  the  larger  flowers,  the  larger  glans 
would  have  afforded  sufficient  characters  to  separate  it  specifically 
from  G.  ilicifolia.  In  a  group  of  Grevilleas  among  which  this  is 
numbered,  none  of  them  presenting  highly  differential  marks  it 
seemed  natural  to  give  to  it  the  same  position  as  the  others  enjoy. 
After  a  careful  comparison  the  learned  Baron  comes  to  the  con- 
clusion that  this  is  simply  a  variety  of  G.  ilicifolia  resting  on  the 
larger  size  of  the  flowers,  and  greater  prominence  of  the  hypogy- 
nous  gland.  I  learn  from  the  same  authority  that  occasionally 
G.  ilicifolia  is  prostrate  quite  as  much  as  G.  repens,  and  that 
G.  ilicifolia  has  been  traced  by  him  so  far  back  as  1854,  into 
N.  S.  Wales,  though  no  record  of  it  appears  ever  to  have  been 
published. 

EUPHORBIACE^. 

Bertya  rosmarinifolia.   Planch  in  Hook,  Lond.  Jour.,  iv.,  473. 
In  the  cracks  of  rocks  cropping  up  close  to  Quartpot   Creek, 
only  a  couple  of   capsules   left   on   the  plant  have  helped   to  its 


BY    THE    REV.  B.  SCORTECHINI,  F.L.S.  175 

identification.     The  flowering  must  have  been  over  months  ago, 
when  the  fruiting  at  the  time  of  collecting  was  at  an  end. 

Santalace^. 
Ghoretrivm  laterijlorum.     E..  Br.,  Prod.  354. 

Conifers. 

Gallitris  Muelleri.     Benth  and  Hook,  Gen.,  pi.  iii.,  420. 

There  is  no  doubt  as  to  this  species.  The  fruit-cones,  and  the 
dorsal  points  of  their  valves  point  to  no  other  species.  A  small 
pine-tree  growing  on  very  rocky  ground. 

Liliace^. 
Arthropodium  laxum.     Sieb.  in  Boem,  syst.,  vii.,  441. 
Kather  abundant  on  grassy  moist  soil  not  far  off  Stanthorpe. 

Addenda. 

Bossicea  scortechini.  F.  v.  M.,  in  S.  Science  Record,  January, 
1883. 

On  rocky  hills  close  to  Stanthorpe,  the  description  of  this 
species  by  Baron  von  Mueller  is  now  going  through  the  press. 


Description  of  Two  New  Fungi. 
By  the  Bev.  C.  Kalchbrenner. 

PolypoTus  Pentzkei,  Kalchbrenner  (Sect.  Pleuropus). 

Pileus  tenuis  coriaceus  elongato-obovatus  basi  cuneatus  fere 
concavus  glaber  zonatas  ex-ochraceo-fuscidulus,  linea  recta  in 
stipitem  cylindricum  aequilongum  pallidum  apice  hand  dilatatum 
descendeus,  pari  stipiti  concolores  albido-ochracei  minimi. 

Daintree  River,  Pentzke. 

Paxillus  hirtulus.     F.  v.  Mueller. 

Pileus  e  convexo  depressus  margine  involutus  luride  fuscescens, 
stipes  deorsum  incrassatus  et  pallidior  ad  basim  abruptam  radi- 
catus  hirtulus,  lamellae  adnatse  sequaliter  decurrentes  confertse 
angustse  luridae. 

Daintree  River,  Pentzke. 

Pluribus  notis  P.  sordario  convenit  sed  multo  minor,  pileus  vix 
3-4  lineas  latus  stipes  circiter  pollicaris  et  sesquilineam  crassus. 


176  notes  on  the  fructification  of  the  bunya, 

Notes  on  the  Fructification  of  the  Bunya. 
By  the  Honorable  James  Norton. 

In  August,  1881,  it  was  noticed  for  the  first  time  in  this  colony 
at  Ecclesbourne,  Double  Bay,  and  subsequently  at  Fernhill, 
Mulgoa,  and  also  in  the  Queensland  Gardens,  that  the  Bunya 
(^Araicearia  Bidwellii)  which  had  freely  produced  infertile  cones 
for  many  years  had  then  commenced  to  produce  male  catkins  in 
abundance. 

The  tree  which  produced  catkins  in  my  own  garden  has  since 
ripened  several  cones  which  are  now  falling  filled  with  fertile  nuts. 

It  is  singular  that  the  cones  were  all  formed  at  a  greater  height 
in  the  tree  than  the  catkins  which  were  to  fertilise  them,  and  that 
the  fruit  should  take  so  long  a  period  of  time  (at  least  eighteen 
months)  to  come  to  perfection. 

I  have  collected  more  than  a  bushel  of  the  nuts,  and  one  of 
them  having  been  planted  by  a  boy  by  way  of  experiment 
immediately  germinated,  but  as  the  boy  unwittingly  placed  the 
large  end  in  the  soil  the  root  is  at  present  growing  upwards  in  the 
air. 

The  question  whether  the  tree  is  monoecious  or  dioecious  is  now 
therefore  beyond  a  doubt.  In  another  part  of  the  garden,  at 
about  eighty  yards  distance,  I  have  nine  other  specimens  of  this 
tree,  but  these  have  never  produced  catkins,  and  out  of  fifty-one 
cones  formed  by  them  this  year  I  have  only  obtained  about 
twenty-six  fertile  nuts,  while  the  tree  first  mentioned  has  produced 
nearly  1000. 

I  may  here  mention  that  two  out  of  the  three  fertile  nuts 
ripened  by  these  trees,  in  1881,  before  the  appearance  of  the 
catkins  in  this  colony,  are  growing  and  in  a  healthy  condition, 
but  as  yet  no  difi'erence  can  be  perceived  between  them  and  the 
ordinary  unhybridized  plants  though  there  can  be  little  doubt  that 
they  are  the  result  of  fertilisation  by  some  other  Araucaria. 

It  may  be  interesting  to  botanists  to  state  here  that  Finns 
insignis  is   now   producing    cones   freely.      Although  for  several 


BY    THE    HONORABLE    JAMES    NORTON.  177 

years  I  have  watched  for  the  male  inflorescence,  if  it  may  be  so 
called,  I  have  never  succeeded  in  discovering  it,  but  the  only  cone 
which  I  have  yet  examined  contains  fertile  seeds. 

This,  however,  may  be  due  to  some  other  pine  of  the  same 
class,  for  the  pollen  is  sufliciently  light  to  be  capable  of  being 
wafted  by  wind  to  considerable  distances. 


Description  of  some  New  Australian  Fishes. 
By  E.  p.  Ramsay,  F.L.S.,  &c. 

Saurida  fekox,  sp.  nov. 
D.  1/10.     Y.  9.     A.  11.     P.  14  to  15. 

A  horny  tubercle  on  either  side  at  the  base  of  the  tail.  Length 
of  head  four  times  in  the  total  without  the  caudal.  The  inter- 
orbital  space  equals  the  distance  from  the  centre  of  the  eye  to  the 
tip  of  the  snout,  and  is  nearly  four  times  in  the  length  of  the 
head.  Adipose  eyelid  well  developed,  extending  to  the  nostril. 
Short  diameter  of  the  eye  one  and  two-thirds  in  the  snout,  and  one 
and  a-half  of  the  interorbital  space,  eight  times  in  the  length  of  the 
head,  silvery  with  a  narrow  yellow  margin  anteriorly.  The  height 
of  the  body  six  times  in  the  total  length  without  the  caudal.  The 
dorsal  fin  commences  opposite  the  thirteenth  scale  of  the  lateral 
line  :  the  pectoral  reaches  as  far  as  the  vent  and  to  the  eleventh 
scale  of  the  lateral  line.  The  adipose  fin  is  equal  to  half  the 
length  of  snout  from  centre  of  orbit.  A  pale  rose  band  below  the 
lateral  line  followed  by  three  or  four  of  a  yellowish  tint  :  belly 
silvery,  above  the  lateral  line  brown      Lateral  line  raised,  keeled. 

Hab.  Port  Jackson. 

Batrachus  punctatulus,  sp.  nov. 
D.  12-16.  A.  15.  Y.  1,  5.  P.  21. 
No  branchiostegals.  General  color  light  sienna  brown,  spotted 
with  blackish  brown,  larger  spots  on  the  back,  the  whole  of  the 
head  above  and  below  spotted.  Pectoral  fin  broad  and  short,  as 
wide  as  long ;  dorsal  continuous,  the  rays  about  twice  as  long  as 
the  spines,  tips  of  the  fourth  and  fifth  ray  reaching  to  the  membrane 


178  DESCRIPTION    OF    SOME    NEW    AUSTRALIAN    FISHES, 

of  the  caudal  ray  Candal  rounded  of  22  rays.  Heiglit  of  the 
body  at  the  vent  six  times,  and  at  the  ventrals  4 J  times,  in 
the  total  length.  A  strong  row  of  curved  canine  teeth.  The 
maxillary  reaches  to  the  vertical  from  nearly  the  middle  of  the  eye  ; 
interorbital  space  J  diameter  of  the  eye  ;  length  of  the  snout  about 
13  times  that  of  the  eye  ;  diameter  of  the  eye  3^  in  the  length  of  the 
head  ;  width  of  the  head  from  the  hinder  margin  of  the  orbit  equal 
to  the  distance  from  thence  to  the  snout,  the  length  of  the  head  to 
point  of  operculum  3  J  of  the  total.  Small  scales  on  the  body,  none 
on  the  head,  none  on  fins.  End  of  maxillary  free,  overlapping  the 
anterior  portion  of  the  preoperculum.  No  teeth  on  palate  or  vomer, 
pharyngeal  teeih  in  a  cluster,  strongly  curved  inwards,  a  strong 
cluster  at  the  base  of  tongue,  narrow  band  of  teeth  on  the  maxill- 
aries  with  an  outer  series  with  strong  curved  teeth  set  rather  wide 
apart ;  in  the  lower  jaw  an  inner  and  an  outer  series  of  strong 
incurved  teeth,  a  series  of  smaller  teeth  between  them:  Lateral 
line  bent  under  the  8th  spine,  the  remainder  of  it  straight. 

Hah.  Torres  Straits,  Queensland. 

Said  to  live  in  holes  in  the  sand. 

Presented  to  the  Museum  by  Mr.   Cousens. 

Genyoroge  Macleayana,  s}).  nov. 

D.  11/14,  A.  3/9,  P.  17,  L.  lat.  60-70.     L.  transv.  10-11/20. 

The  first  spine  of  the  dorsal  very  short,  the  5th,  6th  and 
7th,  nearly  equal  and  longest,  the  8th  ray  longest,  the  others 
decreasing  in  length  to  the  1 4th  ;  the  3rd  spine  in  the  anal  longest 
and  strongest,  about  a  third  longer  than  the  2nd,  the  first  only  J 
the  length  of  the  2nd,  and  about  ^  the  length  of  the  3rd,  the 
4th  and  5th  ray  longest,  the  6th,  7th,  8th,  and  9th  gradually 
decreasing.  Pectoral  falcate,  tapering  to  a  point,  the  5tli  ray 
longest.  Lower  jaw  in  advance  of  the  upper.  Deep  notch  on  the 
preoperculum,  the  lower  border  of  which  is  serrated  ;  from  3  to  0 
rows  of  scales  on  the  cheeks  ;  12  to  13  on  the  gill-cover.  Bony 
protuberance  on  the  interoperculum  comparatively  small.  The 
length  of  the  maxillary  equals  the  length  of  the  snout  from 
the  anterior  margin  of  the  eye.     The  diameter  of  the  eye  is  2J  in 


BY    E.   P.  RAMSAY,  F.L.S.  179 

the  snout.  Length  of  the  head  three  times  in  the  body  without 
the  caudal.  The  height  of  the  body  from  the  first  dorsal 
spine  to  the  vent  is  2^ths  in  the  length  without  the  caudal. 
Color  of  a  uniform,  rich  orange  red,  the  centre  of  the  scales 
being  opalescent.  On  the  caudal  portion  below  the  lateral  line 
there  are  9  to  10  scales  and  7  above,  between  the  last  ray  of  the 
anal  and  the  lateral  line  there  are  ten  rows  of  scales  ;  from  the 
first  spine  of  the  anal  there  are  17  scales,  and  from  the  anus  18 
below  the   lateral  line  and  10  above.     Teeth  moderate. 

Total  length  2  ft.  6  in.  Pectoral  fin  7J  in.  ;  extent  of  dorsal 
13J  in.,  of  the  anal  4  in.     The  height  of  the  body  9  in. 

This  very  fine  specimen  was  captured  at  North  Head  by  line. 
D.  5/21.     A.  17  to  18.     Percis  Coxii,  sp.  nov. 

The  height  of  the  body  at  the  vent  is  five  times  in  the  length  with- 
out the  caudal;  diameter  of  the  eye  one  and  a  half  in  the  snout,  and 
four  times  in  the  length  of  the  head  ;  length  of  the  head  four  times 
in  the  total ;  short  diameter  of  the  eye  equal  to  the  space  between 
the  eyes  ;  operculum  with  a  sharp  flat  spine ;  distance  between  the 
snout  and  the  preoperculum  equals  the  length  of  the  pectoral  fin ; 
the  ventrals  reach  to  the  anus  ;  caudal  very  slightly  forked ;  a 
black  spot  on  the  first  dorsal ;  second  dorsal  opalescent,  or  slightly 
spotted  at  the  base ;  color  rich  vermilion,  with  blue  lines  on 
the  snout  and  between  the  eyes.  There  are  remains  of  six  or 
seven  blackish  transverse  bands  on  the  body.  A  series  of  strong 
incurved  canine  teeth  in  both  jaws. 

Hab.  Port  Jackson. 

Presented  to  the  Museum  by  James  C.  Cox,  Esq.,  M.D.,  F.L.S. 


i 


NOTES    AND    EXHIBITS. 

The  President  read  some  "  Notes  on  the  Tuena  Gold-Eeefs,"  by 
M.  F.  Kate,  Mining  Engineer.  The  author  gives  a  description  of 
the  workings,  and  of  the  mode  of  occurrence  of  the  gold  and  the 
rocks  associated  with  it.  He  points  out  the  importance  of  the 
relations  between  eruptive  and  dyke  rocks  and  mineral  deposits, 
and  calls  attention  to  the  rather  unusual  fact  of  the  presence  of 
calcite  in  quartz  at  the  Lucky  Hit  reef. 


180  NOTES   AND    EXHIBITS. 

The  Rev.  J.  E.  Tenison- Woods  exhibited  some  of  the  Coal 
Fossils  described  in  his  paper,  namely,  Sphenopteris  crebra, 
Phyllotheca  concinna,  and  Taxites  media.  Also  a  specimen  of 
Sagenopteris  rhoifolia,  the  second  found  in  Australia,  from  the 
Oolitic  plant  beds.  Darling  Downs,  Queensland. 

Mr.  Perceval  Pedley  exhibited  specimens  of  Copper  from 
Mount  Hope  and  Great  Central  Copper  Mines,  including  interest- 
ing specimens  of  malachite,  blue  carbonates,  sulphides,  and  red 
oxide  of  copper,  taken  from  various  depths  from  the  surface  to  120 
feet. 

Mr.  Alexander  Morton,  of  the  Australian  Museum,  exhibited 
a  collection  of  New  Guinea  Implements,  consisting  of  masks, 
clubs,  stone  adzes,  belts,  nets,  drills,  shields,  ornamented 
pipes,  &c.  Many  of  the  stone  implements  are  unique  and  very 
interesting  ;  one  in  particular  was  formed  of  a  fossiliferous  rock. 
These  were  portion  of  a  large  and  valuable  collection  kindly  lent 
by  Mr.  Wilson  of  Mason  Bros. 

Mr.  K.  H.  Bennett  exhibited  specimens  of  the  Spinifex  or 
Porcupine  grass  (Triodia  j^ungens),  from  the  interior  of  New 
South  Wales  ;  also  the  Mallee  hen  {Leipoa  ocellata)  with  the 
young  and  eggs  ;  also  sand  from  the  nest  from  which  the  eggs 
were  taken. 


=2<S?=54g^a 


Fig.  L 


Fig.  2. 


Fig.  3. 


Fig.  4. 

Figs.  1,  2,  4.    Vertebraria  towarrensis. — Teni son- Woods. 
Fig.  3.    Vertebraria  equiseti. — Tenison- Woods. 


IVoc.  Linn.  Soc,  N.S.W.,  1883, 

Vol.  8,  Plate  2 


Fig.  1, 


Fig.  2. 


^■>"i 


Pruc.  Linn.  8oc.,  N.8.W.,  1883,  Vol.  8,  Plate  3. 


Fig.  1. 


Ffg.  2. 


Fig.  3. 


Figs.  1  and  3.  Cunninghamites  australis. — Tenison- Woods. 

Fig.  2.  Male  amenta  of  same.  ,'^ 

Fig.  4.   Sphenopteris  crehra.- — Tenison,- Woods. 

Fig.  5.   Male  amentum  of   Wakhia  mlbieana. 

Fig.  6.  Gldchenia?  Uneata. — Tenison- Woods. 

Fig.  7.   Trichomanides  spinifoUum. — Tenison- Woods. 


Fig.  4. 


Fig.  5. 


Fig.  6. 


Fig.  7. 


Proc.  Linn.  Soc,  N.S.W.,  1883,  Vol.  8,  Plate  4. 


i 


Fig.  1.  Cwininghamifes  aust^'alis  ? — Tenison- Woods. 
Fig.  2.    Sphenopteins  bailey  ana. — Tenison- Woods. 
Fig.  3.  Jeanpaulia  bidens. — Tenison- Woods. 
Fig.  4.    Sphenopteris  glossophylla. — Tenison- Woods, 


?:!N 


rroc.  Linn.  8oc.,  N.S.W.,  1883,  Vol.  8,  Plate  6. 


Fig.  3. 


Fig.  1. 


Fig.  2. 


Fig. 


Fig.  6. 


Fig.  4. 


1^  *T^  "^  ^T^  *Tg  h^  h^  f^  h^ 

OQ  "cfQ  "qq  'c^  'cp  "cp  'cp  'aQ  'cp ' 

JD  GO  ^  Oi  pT  hf^  W  JO  *— ' 


o'  o"  ^  ?t  §_^5 


a  3  ^  ^    ,  '^• 


Fig.  7. 


^^■' 


Fig.  9. 


Fig 


Proc.  Liuii.  Soc,  N.8.AV.,  1883,  Vol.  8,  Plate  7 


Fig.  4 


Fig.  1.  Cunninghamites  australis,  male  amenta, 

Fig.  2.  Ptilophyllum  oUgonetirum.  ^^ 

Fig.  3.  Ditto  ditto. 

Fig.  4.  Ditto      single  leaflet  enlarged.  j&s^l 

Fig.  5.  Sequoiites  australis.  •*br*s] 


Fig.  3. 


I 


Pioc.  Linn.  Soc,  N.8.W.,  1883,  Vol.  8,  PLate  9. 


If'v'K. 


Fig.  1. 


Fig.  3. 


Fig.  1.  AleOiopteris  condnna. 

Fig.  2.  Phyllotheca  carnosa. 

Fig.  3.  Taxites  medius. 

Fig.  4.  Sagenojiferis  rhoifo/ia. 


P.-    . 


Fig.  4. 


Proc.  Linn.  8oc.,  N.S.W.,  1883,  Vol.  8,  Plate  10. 


Fig.  ] 


Fig.  2. 
Fig.  1.   Araucarites  australis. 
Fig.  2.   Trichomanides  laxum. 


Proc.  Linn.  Soc,  N.S.W.,  1883,  Vol.  8,  Plate  10a. 


Macrotmiwptpris  Wkinamattce. 


.SYolVlll 


■■  ^m 


WEDNESDAY,  MAECH    28th,  1883. 


Tie  Yice-President,  the  Eev.  J,  E.  Tenison-Woods,  E.L.S.,  &c., 
in  the  chair. 


MEMBERS    ELECTED. 

J.  H.  Madden,  Esq..  Curator  of  the  Technological  Industrial 
ard  Sanitary  Miiseiirri,  Sydney  ;  Hon.  Charles  Stuart  Mein, 
Brisbane,  Queensland;  H.  G.  MacKinny,  Esq.,  M.E.,  Campbell- 
town  ;  Thomas  Keele,  Esq.,  C.E.,  Douglas. 


DONATIONS. 

'*  Southern  Science  Eecord,"  vol  II.,  Nos.  11  and  12,  November 
and  December,  1882.     From  the  publishers. 

"Journal  of  the  Eoyal  Microscopical  Society,"  December  1882. 
From  the  Society. 

''  Annales  de  la  Societe  Malacologique  de  Belgique,"  Tomes 
XIY.  et  XYI.  Bvo.,  1879  and  1881. 

''Proces-verbal  de  la  Societe  Malacologique  de  Belgique," 
Fevrier  a  Juillet  1882. 

A  set  of  papers,  43  in  number,  chiefly  on  Mollusca  and 
Echinodermata,  by  Edgar  A.  Smith,  F.Z.S.,  &c.  From  the 
author. 

N 


182        NOTES  ON  PLANTS  INDIGENOUS  TO  SYDNEY, 

A  pamphlet  containing  several  papers  by  Baron  Mueller  and 
Prof.  Tate  on  the  Flora  of  North  and  South  Australia ;  also  a 
pamphlet  containing  "Notes  on  the  Tertiary  Strata  beneath 
Adelaide,"  ''Diagnoses  of  new  species  of  Miocene  Fossils  from 
South  Australia,"  and  "  Land  and  Freshwater  Molluscs  of  Tropical 
South  Australia."     By  Prof.  Ralph  Tate,  F.G.S. 

"  Abhandlungen  aus  dem  Gebiete  der  Naturwissenschaften 
herausgegeben  vom  Naturwissenschaftlichen  Yerein  von  Ham- 
burg-Altona,."  YII  Band.,  II  Abtheilung,  4to,  1883.  From  the 
«  Verein." 

•'  Systematic  Census  of  Australian  Plants,  with  Chronologic 
Literary,  and  Geographic  Annotations."  By  Baron  Fred,  von 
Mueller,  K.C.M.G.,  M.D.,F.R.S.,  &c.,  Parti,  Yasculares.  From 
the  author. 


papers  read. 

Occasional  Notes    on    Plants  Indigenous  in  the  Immediate 

Neighbourhood  of   Sydney.  (No.  3.) 

By  E.  Haviland. 

During  the  short  discussion  that  followed  the  reading  of  my  last 
paper,  I  quoted  some  remarks,  by  Professor  Asa  Gray,  on  the 
fertilization  of  certain  plants.  As  in  those  observations,  he 
mentions  Lobelia,  I  have  made  that  genus  the  subject  of  this  short 
paper. 

Bentham  gives,  in  the  Flora  Australiensis,  a  list  of  eighteen 
species  of  the  genus  indigenous  in  Australia;  but  he  mentions, 
that  it  is  widely  spread  over  North  America  and  South  Africa; 
with  a  few  species  in  Europe ;  while  none  had  been  found  in 
Northern  Asia.  The  eighteen  Australian  species,  he  divides  into 
two  sections.     The  first,  consisting  of   ten  species,  having  all  the 


BY    E.  HAVILAND.  183 

anthers  crested  by  a  tuft  of  stiff  short  hairs.  The  second  of  eight 
species,  having  only  the  two  lower  anthers  so  crested.  This  second 
section  he  again  divides  into  two.  The  first  sub-division,  con- 
taining five  hermaphrodite  species;  the  second,  three  species, 
which  are  more  or  less  unisexual  ;  although,  in  reality,  they  have 
both  stamens  and  pistils ;  one  or  the  other,  however,  being 
abortive.  As  an  instance,  he  specially  refers  to  L.  dioica  (a 
Northern  Queensland  species),  the  male  flowers  of  which  have  the 
female  organs  perfect,  so  far  only,  as  the  stigma  is  concerned,  but 
the  ovary  is  short,  and  the  ovules  are  abortive ;  the  stamens  and 
anthers,  or  male  organs,  are,  however,  perfect  in  every  respect  ; 
producing  perfect,  fertile  pollen,  while  the  female  flowers  of  the 
same  species,  have  the  female  organs,  ovary,  style  and  stigma 
perfect ;  but  the  stamens,  or  male  organs,  although  present,  are 
rudimentary  only,  producing  no  pollen.  This  species,  therefore, 
as  well  as  the  two  others  in  this  sub  division.  L.  purpurascens  and 
L  pratioides,  are,  although  possessing  in  each  flower,  to  a  certain 
degree,  both  male  and  female  organs,  virtually  unisexual. 

The  genus  is  placed  by  Bentham  in  the  order  Campanulacese, 
but  by  most  other  botanists  in  a  separate  order,  Lobeliacese  ; 
leaving  Campanulacese  for  those  plants  having  regularly-shaped 
corollas. 

As  my  notes  from  which  I  write  this  paper,  have  been  made 
from  the  examination  of  several  species,  excepting,  however,  for  the 
present,  those  that  are  unisexual,  I  give  the  generic  description 
only  :  not  the  specific  characters  of  any  individual  member  of  the 
genus 

Lobelia. 

"  Calyx  tube  hemispherical,  turbinate,  ovoid  or  rarely  linear ; 
limb  of  five  lobes,  open  or  reduplicate,  valvate  in  the  bud.  Corolla 
slit  open  on  the  upper  side  to  the  base ;  five  lobed,  the  two  upper 
lobes  usually  shorter,  more  deeply  separated  and  erect  or  curved 
upwards,  forming  a  more  or  less  distinct  upper  lip.  Stamens 
inserted  at  the  base  of  the  corolla,  sometimes  very  shortly  adnate 
to  it ;  the  filaments  often  united  above  the  middle  ;  the  anthers 


184        NOTES  ON  PLANTS  INDIGENOUS  TO  SYDNEY, 

united  in  an  oblique  or  slightly  incurved  tube  round  the  style. 
Ovary  two  celled.  Stigma  broadly  two  lobed  and  often  surrounded 
by  a  ring  of  retractile  hairs.  Capsule  opening  loculicidally  within 
the  calyx  lobes  in  two  valves  :  rarely  splitting  longitudinally  below 
the  calyx  lobes  also.  Herbs,  often  acrid  with  a  milky  juice.  The 
Australian  ones  either  annual,  or  creeping  and  rooting  at  the  base. 
Pedicels  one  flowered,  either  axillary  or  terminal,  or  in  terminal 
racemes,  sometimes  having  two  small  bracteoles,  which  however, 
are  never  constant  in  the  same  species.  Flowers  in  a  few  species 
dioecious  by  the  abortion  or  sterility  of  the  anthers  in  the  females^ 
and  the  malformation  of  the  undivided  stigma,  and  abortion  of  the 
ovules  in  the  males."  I  have  been  fortunate  this  season,  in  being 
able  to  examine  and  study  a  great  number  of  Lobelias.  On  the 
mountains,  at  least  as  far  as  Springwood,  as  well  as  on  the  coast, 
they  have  been  unusually  plentiful.  Those  on  the  coast  I  have  found 
chiefly  at  Curl  Curl,  which  is  the  next  bay  north  of  Manly. 
Perha^ps  I  may  be  allowed  to  digress  here,  just  to  say.  for  the 
benefit  of  other  botanists  that,  leaving  Manly  by  the  Pittwater 
road,  and  after  a  walk  of  about  a  mile,  turning  to  the  right  up  a 
steep  rough  hill  road,  known  in  the  locality  as  Pose  Hill,  follow- 
ing from  the  top  of  the  hill,  the  fence  running  east  to  the  ocean, 
then  along  the  beach  to  a  creek  flowing  into  the  sea,  along  the 
winding  of  the  creek  back  to  the  Pittwater  road,  and  thence  to 
the  point  of  starting ;  the  boundaries  of  a  piece  of  country  will 
be  traversed  of  between  three  and  four  square  miles  in  extent ; 
very  rich  indeed  in  specimens  of  our  coast  flora.  Here,  in  their 
respective  seasons,  may  be  found  Utricularia,  Xyris,  four  or  five 
different  species  of  Boronia,  Blandfordia,  Goodenias,  and  a  vast 
number  of  other  plants  of  great  interest  to  the  botanist.  Of  the 
Lobelias,  I  have  found  in  this  locality,  during  the  present  summer 
L.  anceps,  L.  gracilis,  L.  gibosa,  and  L.  debilis  (of  the  last  how- 
ever only  one  plant).  From  my  notes  of  these,  as  well  as  of 
those  examined  in  the  mountains,  especially  with  regard  to  their 
fertilization,  I  find  the  same  process  going  on  in  all.  Taking  a 
flower  of  which  the  corolla  has  recently  opened,  the  filaments  of 
the  stamens  can  be  seen  open  and  separated  from  each  other  at 


BY    E.  HAVILAND.  185 

the  base,  but  connected  at  the  top ;  the  anthers  forming  a  com- 
paritivelj  long  fluted  cylinder,  so  closely  adnate,  that  considerable 
force  with  the  dissecting  needle  is  needed  to  separate  them.  In 
fact  I  have  rarely  succeeded  in  doing  so  cleanly,  one  anther 
generally  tearing  away  part  of  its  neighbour  rather  than  separate 
from  it.  No  trace  of  the  apex  of  the  pistol  can  be  seen  ;  it  is,  as 
yet,  so  completely  closed  in  at  the  bottom  of  this  anther  tube. 
Choosing  a  more  advanced  specimen,  pollen  may  be  seen  just 
beginning  to  emerge  from  the  top  of  the  tube.  In  one  still  more 
advanced  the  pollen  is  seen  crowded  out  of  the  tube  and  falling 
over  its  side.  In  another  the  point  of  the  style  can  be  seen 
emerging  from  the  tube,  and  following  the  pollen  which  it  has 
pushed  before  it.  When  the  style  has  so  far  advanced  that  its 
apex  is  quite  clear  of  the  anther  tube,  it  will  be  observed  that  it 
is  crested  with  short  stifi"  hairs  or  bristles,  which  there  is  no  doubt 
have  been  used  as  a  brush  to  sweep  the  pollen  before  it.  I  have 
not,  myself,  as  a  rule,  found  the  style  retaining  any  of  the  pollen, 
except  occasionally  a  grain  or  two.  It  appears  to  accumulate  on, 
and  cling  for  a  short  time,  to  the  outside  of  the  anther  tube, 
allowing  the  apex  of  the  style  to  pass  beyond  it.  Examining 
other  and  still  more  mature  flowers ;  the  style  will  be  found 
projected  to  different  distances,  from  one  to  three-eights  of  an  inch 
beyond  the  anthers,  but  no  trace  of  a  stigma  can  be  found,  and 
it  will  be  noticed  by  this  time,  that  in  almost  every  case  the 
pollen  has  entirely  disappeared.  It  is  now  that  the  apex  of  the 
style  splits  into  two  rather  broad  spreading  lobes,  and  it  will  be 
seen  that  the  inner  surfaces  of  these  lobes  form  the  stigmas, 
which  having  been  enclosed  within  the  style,  till  all  the  pollen  from 
their  own  flower  had  disappeared,  are  at  last  exposed  to  the  visits  of 
pollen  bearing  insects.  As,  however,  a  small  portion  of  pollen  is 
generally  left  inside  the  anther  tube  after  the  style  has  escaped,  I 
thought  it  not  unlikely  that,  at  a  subsequent  period,  and  after  the 
lobes  of  the  style  had  opened  exposing  the  stigmas,  the  anthers 
would  also  separate  exposing  the  residue  of  the  pollen.  In  such 
case  an  insect  would,  in  passing  from  the  anthers  to  the  stigmas, 
undoubtedly  self-fertilize  the  flower.     I  have,  however,  found  no 


186  NOTES    ON    PLANTS    INDIGENOUS    TO    SYDNEY, 

instance  in  which  tlie  anthers  have  so  separated,  although  I  have 
watched  especially  for  it  from  the  maturing  to  the  withering  of 
the  flower.  Even,  however,  if  it  should  happen  in  an  isolated 
case,  the  stigmas  would  have  been  so  long  exposed  in  a  mature 
state  to  the  visits  of  insects  as  to  make  it  more  than  probable 
that  fertilization  by  their  aid  would  have  been  already  accom- 
plished. 

There  is  often  much  difficulty  experienced  in  identifying  the 
various  species  of  this  genus,  as  they  frequently  approach  each 
other  very  closely — much  assistance  may,  however,  be  gained  by 
careful  inspection  of  the  anthers,  as  to  whether  they  are  all  or 
only  a  portion  of  them  crested ;  and  also  by  closely  examining 
the  seeds  (which  are  very  small)  with  a  low  microscopic  power, 
some  species  having  them  smooth  ;  others  with  three  prominent 
angles,  and  some  even  winged. 

As  to  the  Lobelia  as  a  plant  for  domestication,  I  suppose  the 
Amateur  Gardener  could  find  none  amongst  our  Australian  flora 
more  easy  to  cultivate — massed  together  in  groups  in  a  bush 
house  or  fernery,  it  has  a  very  beautiful  efiect.  In  the  summer 
of  1880  I  took  home  from  Manly  a  small  plant  of  Lobelia 
gracilis.  I  did  not  intend,  at  the  time,  to  cultivate  it,  but  to  dry 
it  for  the  herbarium,  I  did  not  therefore  remove  it  as  carefully  as 
I  should  have  done  ;  the  roots,  in  consequence,  being  considerably 
injured.  I  was  however  induced  to  plaut  it  and  take  the  chance 
of  its  growing.  For  a  long  time  it  struggled  between  life  and 
death,  till  at  last,  in  the  spring  of  the  following  year,  it  started 
into  vigorous  growth  and  in  a  few  weeks  had  become  such  a 
beautiful  object  that  friends  used  to  call  especially  to  see  it.  At 
one  time  I  counted  one  hundred  and  seventy-eight  flowers  upon 
it,  and  yet  it  was  only  a  plant  of  sixteen  inches  in  height,  and  it 
remained  with  a  succession  of  flowers  in  this  state  all  the  summer. 

All  the  species  produce  seeds  in  abundance,  which  may  be 
readily  collected  in  the  bush,  and  there  is  no  difficulty  in  raising 
strong  healthy  plants  from  them,  but  the  plants  must  be  kept 
moderately  dry,  as  they  are  liable,  as  gardener's  say,  to  "damp  ofi"," 
if  unduly  watered, 


by  e.  haviland.  187 

On  Tooth-marked  Bones  of  Extinct  Marsupials. 
By  Charles  W.  De  Yis,  B.A. 
Whatever  may  have  been  the  cause  of  the  extermination  of  the 
herbivorous  fauna  of  pliocene  Australia,  it  is  clear  that  while  still 
in  the  zenith  of  its  vigour,  it  was  kept  in  check  by  carnivorous 
animals.  About  five  per  cent,  of  some  hundreds  of  bones  from  the 
Darling  Downs  awaiting  examination,  are  pitted,  scored,  cracked, 
chopped,  and  crushed  by  the  teeth.  They  have  in  fragments 
passed  with  the  faeces  through  tha  intestines  of  bone-eating  beasts 
of  prey.  Fully  eighty  per  cent,  of  the  remainder  tell,  in  their 
splintered  fragmentary  condition,  the  same  tale  of  violence.  On 
the  one  hand,  there  is  piled  up  a  heap  of  the  heads  of  femurs — 
on  the  other  are  a  few  shafts,  not  one  to  the  score  of  the  heads. 
Of  the  shafts  themselves,  many  were  of  young  animals  whose 
fallen  epiphyses  exposed  a  fairer  grip  to  the  jaws  than  was  possible 
upon  their  rounder  and  harder  surfaces,  Of  predaceous  animals 
as  yet  unanimously  recognized  in  the  drifts,  the  only  one  capablo 
of  crushing  large  shankbones,  say  of  M.  Titian,  is  the  fossil  dog  of 
South  Australia,  identified  by  Professor  McCoy,  with  Canis 
Dingo — and  to  a  dog  which  may  be  C.  Dingo,  the  majority  of  the 
groovings  and  indentations  on  the  bones  spoken  of,  are  very  likely 
due.  The  indentations  are  generally  angular  pits,  showing  on 
their  sides  and  at  their  bottom,  portions  of  bone  crushed  in  from 
the  surface,  and  on  applying  to  several  of  these  pits,  the  major 
cup  of  the  great  sectorial  of  the  existing  dingo,  it  is  found  to  fit 
them  satisfactorily,  or  even  exactly.  Pieces  of  long  bone  again 
show  very  distinct  marks  of  gnawing-marks,  faithfully  copied  by 
the  teeth  of  our  yard  dogs  on  the  bones  they  delight  in.  By  way 
of  confirming  this  interpretation  of  the  tooth  marks,  it  may  be 
mentioned  that  a  coprolite,  probably  that  of  a  dog,  contains  a  good 
sized  fragment  of  bone.  But  the  dog  was  not  the  only  bone-eater 
of  the  period.  There  is  distinct  proof,  accepted  by  all  who  have 
examined  it,  that  Thylacoleo  also  was  an  ossiphagous  animal.  It  is 
yielded  by  a  mandible  of  a  young  kangaroo,  M  affinis,  which  has 
been  seized  in  the  middle  between  the  jaws  of  a  Thylacoleo  with 
evident  intention  of  crushing  it.     It  was  however,  seized  in  an 


188  ON   TOOTH-MARKED    BONES    OF    EXTINCT    MARSUPIALS, 

awkward  fashion.  On  either  side  of  the  alveolar  ridge,  immediately 
in  front  of  the  ascending  process,  is  a  conspicuous  impression  of  a 
tooth  forced  against  the  yielding  bone.  The  characteristically 
grooved  upper  tooth  of  Thylacoleo  on  the  inner — the  smooth  lower 
one  on  the  outer  side.  As  the  beast's  jaws  met,  their  strength 
was  resisted  by  the  row  of  teeth  brought  directly  between  the  edges 
of  teeth  closing  upon  it  above  and  below,  and  the  only  effects 
produced  beyond  the  impression  on  the  bone,  were  the  splintering 
of  one  of  the  kangaroo's  teeth,  and  the  longitudinal  splitting  of  its 
jaw  on  the  inner  side,  below  the  dental  canal.  The  upper 
thylacoleonine  tooth  has  left  the  mark  of  its  whole  length — the 
lower  of  that  elevation  only  which  is  seen  on  the  posterior  third  of 
its  cutting  surface.  On  the  mind  of  the  observer  there  remains 
no  doubt,  that  the  so  termed  "  marsupial  lion"  was  indeed  a 
carnivorous  animal,  but  though  it  might  certainly  have  attempted 
the  fracture  of  the  victim's  jaw  for  the  sake  of  its  investment  of 
fleshy  as  the  cat  breaks  and  swallows  the  bones  of  her  prey,  yet  the 
first  idea  suggested  by  the  specimen  that  it  was  one  of  the  many 
bones  crunched  for  their  own  sakes,  is  probably  the  true  one,  and 
for  this  reason  some  of  the  long  bones  of  kangaroos  bear  across 
them  marks  which  at  a  glance  might  be  mistaken  for  the  effects 
of  blows  of  a  tomahawk — marks  produced  by  long  straight-edged 
incisive  instruments,  which  sometimes  struck  more  than  once  in 
same  groove — in  a  word,  just  the  marks  that  would  be  left  by  a 
pair  of  shear-like  teeth,  actuated  by  powerful  muscles.  No  such 
teeth  save  those  of  the  thylacoleo,  are  known.  From  the  present 
evidence  then,  it  would  appear  that  there  has  been  no  mistake 
made  in  pronouncing  the  animal  to  have  been  a  carnivor,  but  that 
it  was  a  carnivor  resembling  in  its  habits  of  feeding,  the  hyaena 
rather  than  the  lion.  That  opinion  is  strengthened  by  the  form  of 
the  claws  of  which  two  perfect  specimens,  together  with  a  third 
suggesting  a  feebler  species,  have  been  obtained  from  the  Chinchilla 
beds.  However  destructive  to  the  kangaroos,  or  at  least  to  the 
weaker  of  them  it  may  have  been,  its  mission  was  chiefly  that  of 
a  scavenger,  and  it  could  hardly  have  been  an  efficient  agent  in  the 
extermination  of  the  Nototheridae. 


BY   CHARLES    W.  DE   VIS,  B.A.  189 

Since  the  foregoing  notes  were  penned  evidence  has  occurred 
of  the  existence  of  another  carnivor,  which  may  after  all  have 
been  the  chief  strewer  of  broken  bones  over  pliocene  ground. 
Most  of  us  are  aware  of  the  ease  with  which  that  euphemistically 
named  animal,  the  Tasmanian  Devil,  discusses  bones  of  consider 
able  size.  S.  ursirtus  has  been  proved  to  have  been  an  inhabitant 
of  South  Australia  in  pliocene  times  by  Professor  McCoy,  who 
notices  the  strangeness  of  the  circumstance  that  it  has  survived 
in  the  island  rather  than  on  the  mainland.  The  solubility  of  the 
enigma  may  not  be  increased  by  the  probability  that  another  and 
more  powerful  species  of  Sarcophilus  lived  at  the  same  period  in 
Northern  Australia  ;  but  the  full  discovery  of  the  fact  will  at 
least  serve  to  explain  in  great  part  the  matter  under  notice.  The 
sole  relic  yet  detected  of  this  species  (nominally  S.  prior)  is  the 
head  with  a  little  of  the  shaft  of  a  right  tibia.  In  >S'.  ur sinus  the 
transverse  and  fore  and  aft  measurements  of  the  articular  surface, 
including  the  deflected  rotular  process  are  equal — calling  each  of 
these  25,  the  measurements  of  S.  prior  are  respectively,  transverse 
35,  longitudinal  37 — numbers  indicating  a  greater  size  by  one-half 
nearly,  and  a  comparatively  elongated  head.  The  general  form  of 
the  two  bones  is  one,  their  peculiarities  many.  In  both  the 
cavity  for  the  inner  condyle  is  the  deeper,  but  in  S.  prior  it  is 
proportionately  more  excavated  than  in  S.  uy'sinus,  and  it  is 
differently  situated.  In  the  latter  it  is  placed  as  backward  as 
possible,  its  hinder  border  being  the  edge  of  the  shaft — in  the 
former  it  is  brought  more  directly  over  the  axis  of  the  bone  and  a 
wide  non-articular  edge  is  left  between  it  and  the  brim  of  the 
shaft.  The  outer  cavity  in  S.  prior  is  larger  proportionately,  but 
not  deeper  than  in  the  recent  species.  The  spine  is  considerably 
higher  and  stronger,  and  the  ridge  continued  from  it  anteriorly, 
more  sharply  defined.  The  rotular  process  descending  at  the 
same  angle  is  however  longer,  its  edge  is  rather  deeply  emarginate. 
The  intercondylar  groove  is  deeper  and  extends  on  to  the 
base  of  the  spine.  The  fibular  facet  is  further  removed  from 
the  spine  by  the  greater  posterior  expansion  of  the  articular 
surface  for  the  outer  condyle.     On  the  inner  side  of  the  shaft  it 


190  ON    BRACHALLETES    PALMERI    AN    EXTINCT    MARSUPIAL, 

may  be  noted  that  the  depression  bounding  that  side  of  the 
column  supporting  the  part  of  the  head  above  is  filled  up,  but  on 
the  other  hand  that  a  ridge  runs  down  the  hind  edge  of  the  inner 
side  of  the  shaft  from  near  the  brim  of  the  cavity  for  the  inner 
condyle.  On  the  whole  the  bone  gives  the  impression  of  a  better 
knit,  and  more  muscular  animal,  of  a  size  too  superior,  to  be 
included  in  the  same  species  with  S.  ur sinus — one  whose  last 
molar  must  have  equalled,  or  nearly  equalled  in  size,  the  great 
sectorial  of  a  large  dog  and  must  have  been  fully  competent  to 
the  work  whereof  so  many  traces  have  been  left. 


On  Brachalletes  Palmeri  an  Extinct  Marsupial. 

By  Charles  W.  De  Yis,  B.A. 

A  conspicuous  feature  in  the  skeletons  of  kangaroos  is  the 
inordinate  elevation  of  the  great  trochanter  of  the  femur.  In  the 
level  of  its  apex  above  that  of  the  *  head  '  of  the  bone  there  is  an 
excess  pervading  the  family,  neither  individual,  specific,  nor  generic 
variation  being  carried  to  any  great  extent.  The  fact  will  appear 
more  precisely  evident  if  we  measure  the  gluteal  angle  in  several 
of  the  genera  —  and  by  gluteal  angle  is  meant  the  angle  made 
with  the  long  axis  of  the  bone  by  a  straight  line  touching  the  top 
of  the  trochanter  and  the  summit  of  the  head.  In  Macropus 
major  we  find  it  to  be  52^  in  M.  rufus,  54®  in  Halmaturus  dor  salts, 
66®  in  the  femur  figured  in  the  Foss.  Mamm.  of  Aust.  as  that  of 
Palorchestes  Azael,  it  is  46®  and  in  six  other  fossil  species  examined 
for  the  purpose  it  ranges  from  60®  to  45®.  The  value  of  this 
angle  is  the  measure  of  the  leaping  ability  of  the  animal,  the 
propellers  of  the  weighty  trunk  acting  on  the  limb  to  be  extended 
with  a  force  proportionate,  inversely  to  the  inclination,  and 
directly  to  the  resultant  length  of  the  line  of  leverage.  Whence 
we  may  conclude  that  any  considerable  depression  of  the  tro- 
chanter is  an  index  to  concomitant  modifications  of  the  general 
economy  sufficient  to  bring  about  at  least  very  distinct  generic 
differentiation.     In  this  predicament  stands  a  femur  lately  found 


BY   CHARLES    W.   DE    VIS,   B.A.  191 

at  Chinchilla  associated  with  a  number  of  bones  which  from  their 
characters  and  condition  may  well  have  belonged  to  the  same 
animal,  and  which  have  on  the  whole  a  strong  macropodal  facies. 

Its  gluteal  angle  is  77^°,  three  times  the  average  of  the 
measurements  previously  given.  That  so  open  an  angle  and 
consequent  loss  of  saltatory  power  should  be  recognised  in  any 
member  of  the  more  typical  genera  of  the  Macropodidse  or  Pro- 
temnodontidse  is  hardly  possible.  The  present  femur,  though 
equal  in  size  to  that  of  Palorchestes  Azael,  the  largest  of  the 
Macropods  described  by  Professor  Owen,  cannot  therefore  have 
belonged  to  a  co-species,  since  the  cranial  characters  of  Palor- 
chestes shew  its  approach  to  the  normal  kangaroos  rather  than  to 
the  Protemnodonts  whose  skull  presents  some  incipient  affinity 
with  that  of  the  Nototheres.  It  is  rather  in  alliance  with  the 
Protemnodonts  themselves  that  we  must  seek  the  extinct  owner 
of  the  thigh-hone  before  us,  and  in  Procoptodon  Goliath  we  find 
an  animal  not  much  inferior  in  size.  To  this  genus,  however,  we 
may  reasonably  hesitate  to  refer  it.  Of  the  once  largely  evolved 
Protemnodonts  we  have  a  surviving  genus  in  HalmaturuSy  and 
though  the  trochanter  in  Halmaturus,  at  least  in  H.  dorsalis,  is 
not  so  much  elevated  as  in  Macropus,  the  gluteal  angle  is  still  30^, 
and  it  can  hardly  be  supposed  that  Procoptodon,  one  of  its 
relatives,  diverged  from  it  so  widely  in  the  activity  of  its  hind 
limb.  It  is,  indeed,  within  the  limits  of  possibility,  that  a 
creature  with  teeth  so  aberrant  as  those  of  Procoptodort  may 
eventually  declare  itself  but  remotely  allied  to  Protemnodon, 
Sthenurus,  &c.,  and  that  the  femur  under  examination  may 
actually  belong  to  it,  but  pending  discovery,  it  appears  to  the 
writer  prudent  to  give  these  bones  a  distinctive  name.  In  the 
future  a  synonym  of  Procoptodon  will  probably  cause  less  in- 
convenience than  a  mistaken  identification  with  it  of  bones  not 
belonging  to  it.  The  word  Brachalletes  is  coined  for  the  purpose 
of  expressing  a  conception  of  the  contracted  gait  of  the  animal — 
the  specific  name  appended  refers  to  the  part  taken  by  Sir  A. 
Palmer  in  the  discovery  of  its  bones. 


192  ON    BRACHALLETES    PALMERI    AN    EXTINCT    MARSUPIAL, 

Tlie  greatest  breadth  of  this  thigh-bone  between  the  lower  and 
inner  edge  of  the  head  and  the  middle  of  the  outer  edge  of  the 
trochanter  is  5|^  inches — its  breadth  at  the  distal  end  of  the 
trochanterian  pit  is  3  inches,  and  its  height  from  the  same  point 
to  the  top  of  the  trochanter  major  is  3^  inches.  The  correspond- 
ing numbers  in  P.  Azael  are  4|,  3|,  and  4^,  in  M.  Titan  ^\,  2\^ 
and  2 J,  and  in  M.  major  2|,  If,  and  2 J.  The  breadth  of  the 
femur  of  Brachalletes  being  to  that  of  the  bone  of  a  kangaroo 
six  feet  long  from  tip  to  tip  as  41,  22,  the  length  of  the  extinct 
animal  represented  by  it  maj  have  been  about  11  feet  6  inches. 

The  broad  and  low  trochanter-major  presents  but  a  very  dubious 
indication  of  a  suture  defining  an  anchylosed  tuberosity ;  the 
antero-internal  constriction  is  no  less  obscure.  The  upper  surface 
of  the  neck  is  long  and  gently  sloping  ;  the  head  strongly  convex, 
much  more  so  than  in  P.  Azael,  and  together  with  the  neck  is  set  on 
less  obliquely  with  the  transverse  diameter  of  the  shaft  than  in 
M.  major.  The  lesser  trochanter  departs  considerably  from  its 
position  and  form  in  tyj^ical  macropods  ',  it  is  much  further 
removed  downward  from  the  level  of  the  head,  and  in  this  respect 
resembles  that  of  P.  Azael ;  it  consists  of  a  strong  round  tubercle, 
from  which  suddenly  slopes  away  a  low  ridge,  or  rather  ridge-like 
expansion  of  the  intero-posterior  edge  of  the  sLaft;  the  depression 
between  this  ridge  and  the  intero-anterior  edge  is  long  and  deep  ; 
the  broad  surface  between  it  and  the  trochanterian  fossa  is  gently 
convex ;  the  fossa  itself  is  long  and  deeply  excavated  ;  the  neck  is 
relatively  longer  than  in  the  true  kangaroos,  and  the  fossa  more 
external,  the  spa,ce  between  it  and  the  edge  of  the  trochanter 
being  but  a  fourth  of  the  whole  breadth  of  the  bone,  whereas  in 
M.  Major  it  is  four-sevenths.  The  posterior  ridge  continued 
downward  from  the  great  trochanter  for  five  inches  does  not 
terminate  abruptly  and  sharply,  but  subsides  gradually  into  the 
rough  depression  beneath.  In  M.  Major  a  transverse  line  touching 
the  bottom  of  the  fossa  cuts  the  lower  third  of  the  muscular  scar 
above  mentioned  ;  in  the  fossil  this  rough  tract  is  lower  than  that 
imaginary  line  by  a  space  equal  to  half  its  own  length.  The  shaft 
is  antero-posteriorly  compressed,  and  has  a  regularly  oval-section  ; 


BY   CHARLES    W.   DE    VIS,  B.A.  193 

it  is  broken  oflf  at  the  commencement  of  the  rough  surface  above 
the  "  third "  trochanter,  where  its  diameter  is  2  inches,  that  of 
M.  Major  being  1.  In  the  head  of  the  tibia  we  are  struck  with 
as  great  a  deviation  from  macropodal  form  as  in  the  femur;  there 
is  no  anterior  tuberosity  prolonged  in  the  plane  of  the  articular 
surface.  That  surface  is  equilateral,  measuring  2|  inches  on  each 
of  its  three  sides.  A  broad  and  high  intercondylar  ridge  slopes 
gently  to  the  rounded  anterior  apex  of  the  triangular  surface, 
whence  the  profile  of  the  bone  descends  almost  vertically  for 
f  inch  to  the  origin  of  the  broad  procnemial  ridge  3  yet  the 
transverse  groove  below  the  edge  of  the  hinder-articular  surface  is 
as  deeply  cut  as  in  existing  kangaroos.  In  this  characteristic 
feature,  as  well  as  in  the  depth  and  breadth  of  the  excavation  of 
the  outer  facet  of  the  shaft,  and  in  the  sharp,  longitudinal  ridges 
separating  the  other  facets,  the  tibia  is  entirely  macropodal ;  but 
in  the  fore  and  aft  contraction  of  its  roundly  triangular  articulating 
surface  it  suggests  a  tentative  departure  towards  the  slow-paced 
giants  of  the  class. 

Of  the  rest  of  the  remains,  two  distal  ends  of  left  femurs  are 
alone  sufficiently  well  preserved  to  merit  notice.  These  possess 
the  usual  characters  of  the  kangaroo  femur.  So  far  as  can  be 
estimated,  they  are  of  exactly  the  same  size  transversely  as  that  of 
P.  Azael,  but  have  apparently  a  far  greater  length  of  the  condylar 
surfaces.  Besides  this  they  present  several  minor  differences 
which  forbid  their  identification  with  the  fossil  figured  by  Professor 
Owen.  Into  these  distinctive  features  it  seems  unnecessary  to 
enter.  Enough  of  detail  has  already  been  given  to  render  the 
present  communication  tedious. 


On  the  Habits  of  the  Mallee  Hen,    Leipoa  Ocellata. 
By  K.  H.  Bennett. 

This  singular  bird  as  its  trivial  name  implies,  is  an  inhabitant 
of  the  arid  dreary  Mallee  Scrubs  that  clothe  a  large  area  of  the 
western  portion  of  New  South  Wales,  and  even  larger  extents  of 
some  of  the  adjoining  colonies,  but  as  my  experiences  of  the  bird 
and  its  habitat  are  confined  to  the  former  colony,  I  can  speak 


194   ON  THE  HABITS  OF  THE  MALLEE  HEN,  LEIPOA  OCELLATA, 

with  confidence  only  thus  far.  About  the  month  of  October,  the 
birds  (2  only)  commence  (if  new  to  construct — if  old  to  repair) 
their  huge  mound  nests.  In  the  former  case  they  select  a  slight 
depression  ;  such  as  where  a  stump  has  been  burned  out,  this  they 
fill  with  a  mass  of  leaves,  fragments  of  "  porcupine  grass,"  Mallee 
bark,  &c.,  &c.,  and  in  doing  this  the  whole  surface  of  the  sur- 
rounding ground  for  many  yards  is  swept  perfectly  clean.  The 
method  of  doing  this  is  to  go  out  some  distance  from  the  site  of  the 
intended  nest,  and  then  walking  backwards,  alternately  raking 
with  each  of  their  powerful  feet,  and  assisted  by  their  wings, 
sweep  everything  loose  to  a  common  centre.  In  the  case  of  an  old 
nest,  they  clean  out  the  sand  used  for  covering  the  eggs  the 
previous  year,  and  should  they  deem  it  necessary  place  more 
leaves,  &c.,  in  the  hollow.  Should  the  weather  be  moist  at  the 
time,  the  w^ork  goes  on  uninterruptedly,  but  should  it  be  dry,  they 
wait  until  a  passing  shower  has  damped  the  mass  of  vegetable 
deposit,  this  they  then  cover  with  three  or  four  inches  of  sand, 
when  the  female  commences  the  work  of  depositing  her  eggs — this 
she  does  by  laying  the  egg  on  the  sand  covering  the  leaves,  &c., 
and  then  leaning  backwards  grasps  the  egg  in  both  feet,  placing  it 
in  an  upright  position  (small  end  down),  then  holding  it  with  one 
foot,  she  with  the  other  gently  rakes  some  sand  around  ;  and 
changing  feet  does  the  same  on  the  other  side  until  the  egg  will 
stand  ;  it  is  then  covered,  as  well  as  the  other  part  of  the  nest 
with  several  inches  of  sand.  And  here  comes  in  the  immense 
amount  of  work  the  birds  have  to  perform  at  each  subsequent 
laying  for  the  whole  of  the  sand  down  to  the  level  of  the  first  egg 
(until  the  first  layer  or  tier  is  completed)  has  to  be  removed,  and 
so  on  with  each  successive  layer  ;  and  as  the  mound  increases  in 
height  the  labour  increases  in  proportion,  for  should  the  weather 
be  dry,  as  it  usually  is,  the  sand  runs  like  so  much  water,  and  a 
person  has  only  to  open  one  of  these  mounds  himself  to  understand 
the  difficulty  the  birds  have  to  contend  with  in  keeping  the  sand 
Irom  running  back.  The  removal  of  the  sand  is  effected  by  the 
aid  of  wings  and  feet,  the  bird  dragging  each  small  quantity  thus 
obtained  a  sufficient  distance  to  ensure  its  not  running  back. 


BY    K.   H.  BENNETT.  195 

The  circumference  of  the  cavity  in  the  centre  of  the  mound  in 
which  the  eggs  are  deposited  is  about  three  feet,  and  around  the 
edge  of  this  space  the  eggs  (usually  three  sometimes  four)  are 
placed,  this  completes  the  layer ;  the  whole  are  then  covered  with 
sand  to  the  depth  of  four  or  five  inches,  which  is  allowed  to  remain 
and  the  second  layer  is  commenced,  and  so  on  until  the  whole 
(generally  four)  are  completed.  The  bird  lays  about  twice  a-week, 
thus  a  long  time  intervenes  between  the  laying  of  the  first  egg  and 
the  last,  and  consequently  eggs  in  all  stages,  from  fresh  laid  to  just 
on  the  point  of  hatching,  and  young  birds,  are  to  be  found  at  the 
same  time. 

During  the  period  of  incubation  the  parent  birds,  as  a  rule,  visit 
the  nest  morning  and  evening  every  day  ;  in  the  earlier  stages  this 
is  done  to  repair  the  damages  caused  by  native  dogs  and  iguanas, 
who  scratch  at  the  nests  in  the  hopes  of  obtaining  the  coveted  eggs 
or  young,  and  also  to  repair  the  damage  often  caused  by  their 
more  destructive  biped  foes.  As  an  instance  of  which  I  may 
mention  that  on  one  occasion  I  opened  a  nest  about  10  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  which  contained  three  eggs.  I  took  only  one  as  I 
knew  from  its  delicate  colour  that  it  was  quite  fresh.  I  left  the 
nest  open,  and  having  occasion  to  repass  it  about  two  hours 
afterwards  to  revisit  it,  I  found  the  bird  had  in  my  absence  made 
it  up  again.  Thinking  it  might  be  possible  that  the  egg  I  had 
taken  was  not  of  that  morning's  laying,  and  that  whilst  I  was 
away  the  bird  laid  another,  I  again  opened  the  nest,  but  there  was 
but  the  two  eggs.  On  this  occasion  I  opened  the  mound  to  a 
much  greater  extent,  drawing  the  sand  back  to  a  considerable 
distance  and  again  leaving  it  open.  Shortly  before  sundown  I 
returned  to  the  nest  again  and  found  all  damages  repaired. 

As  the  process  of  incubation  progresses  these  visits  have  an 
additional  motive,  viz.,  that  of  assisting  any  young  bird  out  of 
the  superincumbent  mass  by  opening  the  nest  ;  but  that  this  is 
absolutely  necessary,  so  far  as  the  chick  is  concerned,  I  do  not 
believe,  for  on  many  occasions  when  opening  nests  I  have  found 
the  chick  so  near  the  surface  that  a  few  minutes  more  would  have 
efiected  its  liberation  unaided,  and  if  it  could  by  its  own  exertions 


196   ON  THE  HABITS  OF  THE  MALLEE  HEN,  LEIPOA  OCELLATA, 

come  up  from  a  lower  layer,  it  conld  certainly  have  passed  through 
the  few  inches  of  loose  sand  between  it  and  the  exterior  of  the 
mound,    and    from    careful    observations    on    this    point     I    am 
convinced  that  the  chick  can  liberate  itself.     The  egg  is  of  large 
size,  consequently  the  chick  is  large  and  possessed  of  considerable 
strength  ;  and    on   emerging  from  the  shell,   which   is  extremely 
fragile,  its  natural  instincts  prompt  it  to  struggle  for  air  and  light  ; 
its  struggles  displace  the  sand,  which  runs  down  beneath  the  bird 
and  thus  gradually  it  gets  higher  and  higher.     Its  passage  through 
the  warm  dry  sand  completely  removes  any  moisture  clinging  to 
it   on  emerging  from  the  shell,  and,  when  at  last  it  reaches  the 
summit  of  the  mound,  it  is  a  fully  developed  bird  able  to  fly,  run, 
and  take  care  of  itself,  which,  in  fact,  it  has  to  do,  for  the  old  bird, 
having  so  far  conformed  to  maternal  instincts  as  to  assist  it  in 
getting  out  of  the  nest,  now  totally  ignores   its  presence  ;  wdiilst 
the  young  one,  equally  devoid  of  affectionate  instincts,  evinces  fear 
of  its  parent  and  quickly  runs  off  amongst  the  dense  "  porcupine 
grass,"  and  commences   its  lonely  existence,  for  lonely  this  bird 
decidedly  is,  leading  a  solitary  life ;  for,  except  at   the  period  of 
incubation,  it  is  very  rarely  that  tw^o  are  seen  together,  and  when 
met  with  quietly  feeding  its  actions  are  suggestive  of  melancholy, 
for  it  has  none  of  the  liveliness  that  characterises  almost  all  other 
birds,  but  stalks  along  in  a  solemn  manner  as  if  the  dreary  nature 
of  its   surroundings  and  its   solitary   life   w^eighed  heavily   on  its 
spirits.     Its  note  (not  often  uttered)  is  a  most  mournful  sound 
something  like  that  of  the  bronze  winged  pigeon  but  much  louder 
and    each    note   much   more   prolonged.     The   food    of   this    bird 
consists  of  insects,  the  seeds  and  berries  of  various  shrubs,  and  the 
tender  shoots  of  plants.  In  its  wild  state  it  is  entirely  independent 
of  water,   but  will  sometimes  drink  when   domesticated.      It  is 
easily  domesticated  but  evinces  no  intelligence  or  affection,  and  its 
habits  and  actions  are  marked  by  the  same  cheerlessness  and  love 
of  solitude  as  in  its  wild  state.     Although  I   have  had  a  number 
of  them   reared  together    until   full    grown,  yet,  when  liberated, 
they  would  not  associate  but  each  go  its  own  way,  although  so 
tame  that  they  would  take  food  from  a  person's  hand  and  allow 


BY    K.   H.  BENNETT.  197 

themselves  to  be  handled.  The  mounds  are  of  great  size,  one  I 
measured  a  few  days  since  was  37  feet  in  circumference,  and  this 
was  by  no  means  an  exceptional  case.  I  have  seen  tliem  much 
larsrer. 


NOTES    AND    EXHIBITS. 

Mr.  Macleay  exhibited  a  specimen  of  Dendrolagus  Dorianics, 
a  new  species  of  Tree  Kangaroo  from  Mount  Owen  Stanley,  New 
Guinea,  described  by  Mr.  E.  P.  Ramsay  at  the  January  meeting 
of  the  Society.  He  pointed  out  that  the  hair  on  the  body  all 
turned  the  wrong  way. 

Mr.  Macleay  also  exhibited  some  specimens  of  a  Moth,  with  a 
fungus  upon  which  their  larvae  had  fed.  He  stated  that  the 
larvae  were  inhabitants  of  portable  cases,  like  the  rest  of  the 
Psychidce,  to  which  family  they  no  doubt  belonged.  The  genus 
and  species — CEcinia  Scotti  were  described  and  figured  by  Walker 
Scott,  M.A.  in  his  beautiful  but,  unfortunately,  uncompleted 
work  entitled  "  Australian  Leindoptera "  The  specimens  ex- 
hibited (two  females)  were  the  only  outcome  of  a  large  number  of 
the  larvse  collected  by  Sir  John  Hay,  at  Nepean  Towers,  some 
months  ago. 

Mr.  Macleay  also  exhibited  a  very  large  and  beautiful  piece  of 
Fire-opal,  brought  by  Mr.  F.  A.  Powell  from  Queensland. 

Mr.  F.  B.  Kyngdon  exhibited  some  specimens  of  marsh-plants 
collected  by  himself  and  Mr.  Whitelegge,  at  Waterloo. 


WEDNESDAY,  25th  APRIL,  1883. 


The  Vice-President,  the  Rev.  J.  E.  Tenison- Woods,  F.L.S.,  &c., 
in  tlie  Chair. 

Mr.  H.  Deane,  M.A.,  was  present  as  a  visitor. 


Members  Elected. 

G.  LiTTLEJOHN,  Esq.;  Strathmore,  Forest  Lodge;  G.  A.  Cheeke, 
Esq.,  Tusculum,  Macleay  street;  William  Neill,  Esq.,  City  Bank, 
Sydney. 


Donations. 

"  Feuille  des  Jeunes  Natural istes,"  Paris,  Nos.  145  a  149, 
Nov.  1882  a  Mars  1883.     From  the  "  Directeur." 

"  Myeologische  Mittheilung  von  C.  Kalchbrenner."  From  the 
author. 

"  Bulletin  of  the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology  at  Harvard 
College,  Cambridge,  Massachusetts,"  vol.  x.,  Nos.  2,  3  and  4,  and 
Annual  Report  of  the  Curator  for  1882.     From  the  Museum. 

"  Journal  of  the  Royal  Microscopical  Society  of  London," 
February  1883.     From  the  Society. 

"  Report  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Free  Public  Library,  Sydney, 
for  the  year  1882." 

"  Some  Points  in  the  Myology  of  the  Common  Pigeon,"  by 
William  A.  Haswell,  M.A.,  B.Sc.     From  the  author. 


papers  read.  199 

Papers  Read. 

Notes  on  a  Collection  of  Fishes  from  the  Burdekin  and 

Mary  Rivers,  Queensla^nd. 

By   William   Macleay,   F.L.S.,  &c. 

In  September  of  last  year  the  Trustees  of  the  Australian 
Museum  sent  Mr.  Alexander  Morton  to  the  Burdekin  River  for 
the  express  purpose  of  collecting  and  investigating  the  fishes  of 
that  river.  The  idea  of  making  such  an  investigation  was 
suggested  some  years  ago  by  Professor  Owen,  who  thought  that  a 
search  in  some  of  the  inter-tropical  rivers  of  Australia  might  lead 
to  the  discovery  of  existing  species  of  palaeichthyan  forms. 

No  such  ancient  fishes  were  found,  still  the  collection,  which  I 
have  looked  over  and  named  at  the  request  of  the  Trustees  of  the 
Museum,  is  not  without  interest.  Mr.  Morton  was  well  supplied 
with  nets  of  various  kinds,  lines,  dynamite,  and  every  appliance 
for  catching  or  trapping  fish  that  could  be  procured,  and  I  think 
it  will  be  found  that  he  managed  to  secure,  during  his  short  stay 
on  the  river,  about  all  the  varieties  of  fishes  inhabiting  its  waters. 

Mr.  Morton's  operations  were  confined  to  two  very  distant  parts 
of  the  river.  The  first  few  weeks  he  was  engaged  in  fishing  the 
river  near  its  mouth,  but  was  unable  to  extend  his  search  beyond 
the  first  rapids — a  distance  only  of  15  miles  from  the  sea — though 
for  some  distance  below  the  falls  the  water  was  quite  fresh  and  the 
current  strong.  The  fishes  found  in  this  part  of  the  river  were,  as 
will  be  observed,  of  a  mixed  character — some  undoubtedly  sea  fish, 
others  salt  water  fish,  but  habitually  entering  rivers,  and  a  few 
strictly  fresh  water  species.  The  only  other  part  of  the  river 
visited  by  Mr.  Morton  was  about  200  miles  higher  up,  at  or  near 
Charters  Towers,  where  of  course  there  could  be  nothing  but  fresh 
water  fishes. 

The  fishes  from  the  Mary  River  were  all  collected  in  the  vicinity 
of  Maryborough.  I  make  no  attempt  in  the  following  notes  to 
give  synonyms,  and  the  references  to  each  species  are  limited  to  a 
few  of  the  most  useful  and  most  accessible  : — 


200        NOTES  ON  A  COLLECTION  OF  FISHES  FROM  QUEENSLAND, 

Percid^. 
1.  Lates  Darwiniensis.    Macl. 
Proc.  Linn.  See,  N.  S.  Wales,  Vol.  2  p.  345. 
This  fish  was  only  found  in  Lillesmere  Lagoon,  a  large  sheet 
of  fresh  water  on  the  Lower  Burdekin,  communicating  with  the 
river  only  in  high  floods.     Probably  this  fish  sometimes  goes  to 
the  sea. 

2.    PSEUDOLATES    CAVIFRONS.        All.  &  Macl. 

Proc.  Linn.  Soc,  N.  S.  Wales,  Vol.  1,  p.  262,  PI.  3. 

Hab.  Lillesmere  Lagoon,  and  in  salt  water.  Lower  Burdekin. 

It  is  said  to  attain  a  gigantic  size. 

3.  Serranus  estuarius.  n.  sp. 
D.  11/14,  A.  3/8.  L.  lat.  70. 
Head  considerably  longer  than  the  height  of  the  body ;  space 
between  the  eyes  slightly  convex,  and  more  than  the  diameter  of 
the  orbit,  distance  of  snout  from  eye  about  the  same.  The  teeth 
are  not  large,  the  lower  jaw  projects  slightly,  the  maxillary  extends 
behind  the  vertical  from  the  posterior  margin  of  the  eye.  The 
prseoperculum  is  roughly  toothed  at  the  angle,  the  operculum  is 
armed  with  two  spines,  the  tail  is  rounded.  Colour  brownish 
with  numerous  large  spots  and  blotches  of  darker  brown ;  fins  dark, 
all  with  large  whitish  spots,  except  the  pectorals.  One  specimen, 
length  16  inches,  taken  in  the  Mary  River,  but  evidently  a  salt 
water  fish.  It  closely  resembles  Serranus  Salmonoides.  Cur  &  Val. 

4.   Apogonichthys  Gillii.  Steind. 
Macl.  Cat.  Fishes,  Proc.  Linn.  Soc,  N.  S.  Wales,  Vol.  5,  p.  347. 
Burdekin  River,  a  fresh  water  fish,  found  also  in  Cox's  River, 
N.  IS.  Wales. 

5.  Oligorus  Macquariensis,     Cur.  &  Yal. 
Macl.  Cat.  Fishes  Proc.  Linn.  Soc,  N.  S.  Wales,  Vol.  5,  p.  352. 
Mary  River.     I  cannot  detect  any  difference  between  this  fish 
and  the  well  known  "  Cod  "  of  our  western  rivers. 


BY   WILLIAM    MACLEAY,  F.L.S.  &C.  201 

6.  Therapon  truttaceus.     Macl. 

Cat.  Fishes  Proc.  Linn.  Soc,  N.  S.  Wales,  Yol.  5,  p.  366. 
Mary  River,  fresh  water  lagoon. 

7.  Therapon  percoides.     Gunth. 

Macl.  Cat.  Fishes  Proc.  Linn.  Soc,  N.  S.  Wales,  Vol.  5,  p.  362. 
Lillesmere  Lagoon  and  Upper  Burdekin. 

8.  Therapon  longulus.     Macl. 
Cat.  Fishes  Proc.  Linn.  Soc,  K  S.  Wales,  Vol.  5,  p.  367. 
Lillesmere  Lagoon. 

9.  Therapon  fuliginosus.     n.  sp. 

D.  12/13.  A.  3/9.     L.  lat.  52. 

The  height  of  the  body  is  more  than  one-third  of  the  total 
length,  the  length  of  the  head  about  one-fourth.  The  head  is  wide 
at  the  base,  and  rounded  at  the  snout,  the  profile  descending  in  a 
rather  concave  sweep,  the  lips  are  fleshy,  the  mouth  reaches  to 
below  the  anterior  margin  of  the  eye,  the  maxillary  shows  largely 
above  and  behind  the  intermaxillary  ;  the  eye  is  large  and  nearly 
two  diameters  distant  from  the  snout ;  the  cheek  is  covered  with 
small  fixed  little-imbricate  scales  ;  the  prseoperculum  is  uniformly 
rounded  and  finely  serrated,  the  operculum  has  two  spines,  the 
lower  one  large  and  flat.  The  first  spine  of  the  dorsal  fin  is  short, 
the  second  less  so,  the  rest  pretty  uniform ;  the  spines  of  the  anal 
are  of  moderate  thickness,  the  third  a  little  the  longest ;  the  soft 
dorsal  and  anal  are  rounded  behind  ;  the  caudal  fin  is  slightly 
emarginate.  The  colour  is  dull  black  all  over,  with  the  tip  of  the 
tail  slightly  edged  with  a  ligher  hue.     Upper  Burdekin. 

A  thick  heavy  fish,  attaining  a  length  of  15  inches,  and 
seemingly  abundant. 

10.  Therapon   parviceps.     n.  sp. 

D.  13/10.     A.   3/9.  L.  lat.  52. 

Height  of  body  about  one-third  of  the  total  length,  length  of  head 
less  than  one-fourth  ;  space  between  the  eyes  broad  and  convex,  head 
terminating  in  a  small  round  muzzle  ;  mouth  very  small ;  maxillary 
distinctly  visible,  triangular,  and  not  nearly  extending  to  beneath 
the  eye.     Eyes  rather  small,  more  than   two  diameters  apart,  and 


202        NOTES  ON  A  COLLECTION  OF  FISHES  FROM  QUEENSLAND, 

distant  from  the  snout  about  the  same ;  prseorbital  not  serrated, 
four  series  of  scales  on  the  cheek  ;  prseoperculum  without  scales  on 
the  limb,  and  strongly  serrated  posteriorly,  operculum  with  two 
points,  the  lower  strong  and  flat ;  the  coracoid  has  about  twelve 
strong  serrations  ;  the  suprascapula  about  six.  The  first  dorsal  spine 
is  small,  the  second  larger,  the  fourth  and  fifth  are  the  longest,  the 
thirteenth  not  longer  than  the  preceding  one,  and  much  shorter 
than  the  soft  rays  ;  the  third  anal  spine  is  longer  and  more  slender 
than  the  second  :  the  caudal  fin  is  deeply  emarginate,  the  lobes 
pointed.  Colour  silvery,  with  a  darkish  centre  to  each  scale,  the 
fins  blackish.     Length  eight  inches.     Upper  Burdekin. 

11.    DiAGRAMMA   AFFINE.       Gunth. 

Macl.  Cat.  Fishes  Proc.  Linn.  Soc.  N.  S.  Wales,  Vol.  5,  p.  370. 
Lower  Burdekin.     A  salt  water  fish. 

12.    DiAGRAMMA    LABIOSUM.        n.   Sp. 

.D.  10/24.     A.  3/7.     L.  lat.  95.     L.  transv.      18/30. 

Height  of  body  one-third  of  the  total  length  ;  length  of  head 
less  than  one-fourth  of  the  same  ;  lips  smooth,  fleshy,  and  of  a 
pale  colour ;  eye  of  moderate  size,  distant  about  twice  its  diameter 
from  the  point  of  the  snout ;  praeoperculum  straight  and  finely 
toothed  on  the  posterior  limb,  rounded  and  sparsely  serrated  at  the 
angle.  Lateral  line  straight ;  scales  small,  firmly  adherent  and 
etenoid  ;  those  on  the  head  and  on  the  body  above  the  lateral  line 
smaller  than  those  on  the  rest  of  the  body,  and  appearing  to  have 
numerous  minute  scales  fastened  upon  them.  The  first  dorsal 
spine  is  rather  less  than  half  the  length  of  the  second,  from  the 
second  backwards  the  fin  gets  gradually  lower  to  the  soft  dorsal, 
which  again  gradually  becomes  higher  to  the  extremity ;  the 
pectorals  are  short ;  the  ventrals  pointed  ;  the  anal  has  the  first 
spine  short,  the  second  long  and  slight,  the  third  still  longer  and 
slight ;  the  caudal  slightly  emarginate.  The  general  colour  is  a 
dark  silvery  bluish  grey ;  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins  tipped  with 
black,  and  the  soft  dorsal  and  caudal  densely  spotted  with  brown. 
Length,  12  inches. 

Wide  Bay.     A  sea  fish. 


BY   WILLIAM    MACLEAY,  F.L.S.,  &C.  203 

13.  Gerres  filamentosus.     Cur.  and  Val. 
Bleek  Atl.  Iclith.  Perc.  p.  124,  tab.  78,  fig.  3.  Macl.  Cat.  Fishes 
Proc.  Linn.  Soc.  N.  S.  Wales,  vol.  5,  p.  379. 
Lower  Biirdekin,     Salt  water, 

Squamipinnes. 
14.  scatophagus  multif^sciatus. 
Richards.   Voy  Ereb.   and  Terr.   Fishes,  p.  57,  pi.  35,   figs,  4-6 
Macl.  Cat.  Fishes  Proc.  Linn.  Soc.  N.  S.  Wales.     Yol.  5,  p.  396. 
Lower  Burdekin.     Salt  water. 

Sparid^. 
15.  Chrysophrys  hasta.     B1. 
Bleek  Atl.  Ichth.   Perc.  Tab.  67,  fig  3.    Macl.  Cat,  Fishes  Proc. 
Linn.  Soc.  N.  S.  Wales,  vol.  5,  p.  418. 
Lower  Burdekin.     Salt  water. 

SCORP^NID^. 

16.  Centropogon  robustus.     Gunth. 

Cat.  Fishes,  2  p.  128.  Macl.  Cat.  Fishes  Proc.  Linn.  Soc.  N.  S. 
Wales,  vol.  5,  p.  436. 

Mary  River.  Fresh  water.  This  fish  is  found  in  most,  if  not 
all,  the  rivers  of  the  east  coast  of  New  South  Wales, 

POLYNEMID^. 
17.       POLYNEMUS    TETRADACTYLUS.       BuSS. 

Gunth.  Cat.,  2,  p.  329.— Cant.  Mai.  Fishes,  p.  25. 

Lower  Burdekin — in  salt  water. 

Mr.  Morton  informs  me  that  this  fish  visits  the  estuary  of  the 
Burdekin  at  certain  seasons  in  large  shoals,  and  is  much  prized  as 
an  article  of  food.  It  is  salted  and  dried  in  considerable  quantity 
by  the  Chinese  curers,  and  readily  sold  throughout  the  towns  and 
mining  villages  at  6d.  per  lb.  It  is  found  all  over  the  Eastern 
seas.  Dr.  Cantor,  in  his  Catalogue  of  Malayan  Fishes,  p.  26,  says 
of  it : — "  It  is  highly  valued  as  an  article  of  food,  its  flavour  being 
compared  with  that  of  salmon."  The  same  author  informs  us  that 
this  fish  is  also  used  by  the  Chinese  in   the   Straits   Settlement  in 


204        NOTES  ON  A  COLLECTION  OF  FISHES  FROM  QUEENSLAND, 

the  preparation  of  a  very  favourite  condiment.  The  air-bladder  of 
this  species  will  probably  be  found,  like  that  of  F.  plehejus  and 
indicus,  to  give  a  profitable  yield  of  isinglass.  It  is  said  to  attain  a 
length  of  4  feet. 

SCI^NID.E. 
18.    CORVINA    ARGENTEA.        n.  Sp. 

D.  10,  1/29 ;  A,  2/7.     L.  lat.  52. 

Height  of  body,  about  3  J  times  in  the  total  length  ;  length  of 
head,  about  four  times  in  the  same  ;  snout  obtuse,  convex,  rounded, 
the  jaws  equal,  the  maxillary  extending  to  behind  the  middle  of 
the  eye,  which  is  large  and  about  its  own  diameter  distant  from 
the  snout.  An  outer  series  of  strong,  curved,  sharp  teeth  in  the 
upper  jaw.  Praeoperculum  very  slightly  and  distantly  serrated  ; 
suprascapula  crenulated ;  coracoid  entire.  The  first  dorsal  spine 
is  minute,  the  second  and  third  very  high,  the  other  spines 
becoming  gradually  lower  to  the  tenth,  which  is  very  small ;  the 
second  anal  spine  is  very  large,  nearly  as  long  as  the  first  ray ;  the 
tail  is  rather  pointed.  Colour,  silvery  all  over,  the  extreme  edge 
of  the  spinous  dorsal  fin  is  black. 

I^ower  Burdekin,  in  salt  water. 

This  is  also  an  abundant  and  valuable  fish,  and  is  probably  like 
its  congeners  in  the  Indian  seas,  a  yielder  of  isinglass. 

Carangid^. 
19.   Caranx  Georgianus.     Cur.  and  Yal. 
Richards.  Yoy.  Ereb.  and  Terror  Fishes,  p.  135,  pi.  58,  figs.  1-3. 
Macl.  Cat.  Fishes,  Proc.  Linn.  Soc.  N.S.W.,  Vol.  5,  p.  533. 
Lower  Burdekin  ;  salt  water. 

20.  Caranx  compressus.     n.  sp. 

D.  7,  1/21 ;  A.  2,  1/21.     L.  arm.  45. 

The  height  of  the  body  is  contained  3|  times  in  the  total  length. 
Body  very  compressed,  the  back  from  the  dorsal  fin  to  the  snout 
forming  a  very  sharp,  narrow  ridge.  Mouth  oblique,  the  maxil- 
lary broad  and  triangular  at  its  extremity,  fitting  into  an  emar- 
gination  of  the  praeorbital,  and  extending  to  below  the  anterior 


BY   WILLIAM    MACLEAY,  F.L.S.,  &C.  205 

margin  of  the  eye.  Eyes  moderate,  each  about  one  diameter 
distant  from  the  central  ridge  of  the  head.  A  single  series  of 
short,  sharp  teeth  in  each  jaw,  numerous  teeth  on  the  vower  and 
palatine  Lones.  The  lateral  line  becomes  straight  and  armed 
beneath  the  third  dorsal  ray,  the  armature  at  first  slight,  becoming 
tolerably  strong  towards  the  tail.  Colour  silvery,  the  opercular 
spot  large  and  conspicuous  ;  the  anal  and  caudal  fins  are  yellowish. 
In  one  of  two  specimens  before  me,  the  rays  of  the  dorsal  and  anal 
fins  terminate  in  long  filaments,  probably  a  sexual  difi'erence. 
Length,  9  inches. 

Lower  Burdekin,  salt  water. 

2L  Chorinemus  Lysan  Forsk. 
Macl.,   Cat  Fishes,   Proc,    Linn.   Soc,   N.   S.  Wales,    Vol.   5, 
p.  543. 

Lower  Burdekin.     Salt  water. 

22.  Chorinemus  Toloo.     Cur.  and  Yal. 
Macl.,   Cat  Fishes,   Proc,  Linn.   Soc,   N.   S.    Wales,  Vol.   5, 
p.  544. 

Lower  Burdekin.     Salt  water. 

23.  Equala  edentula.     B1. 

Richards,  Yoy.,  Ereb.  and  terr.,  Ichth.,  p.  137,  pi.  59,  fig. 
12-14. 

Macl.,  Cat.  Fishes,  Proc,  Linn.  Soc,  N.  S.  Wales,  Vol.  5, 
p.  549. 

Lower  Burdekin.     Salt  water. 

SCOMBRID^. 

24.  Cybium  semifasciatum,  n.  sp. 

D.  16/17/viii.     A.  2/19/ix. 

Height  of  body  about  one-fifth  of  the  total  length,  and  equal  to 
the  length  of  the  head.  Snout  veiy  pointed,  mouth  oblique,  teeth 
strong,  compressed,  triangular  and  distant,  numbering  about  eight 
on  each  side  above  and  below.  Head  between  the  eyes  broad  and 
flat ;  the  maxillary  extends  beyond  the  vertical  from  the  middle  of 
the  eye.     The  lateral  line  is  wdvy  on  its   posterior  portion,  but 


206        NOTES  ON  A  COLLECTION  OF  FISHES  FROM  QUEENSLAND, 

scarcely  curved.  There  is  a  short  skinny  keel  on  the  side  of  the 
tail,  with  a  slightly  oblique  one  a  little  behind  it  above  and  below, 
the  lobes  of  the  caudal  fin  very  long  and  pointed.  Colour  bluish 
silvery  grey,  lighter  beneath,  with  twelve  or  more  blackish  equi- 
distant vertical  bands  on  each  side.  Length  12  inches. 
Lower  Burdekin.     Salt  water. 

COTTINA. 
25.  Platycepalus  Mortoni,  n.  sp. 
r>.  8/13.     A.  12. 

The  length  of  the  head  is  one-fourth  of  the  total  length,  its 
width  between  the  prseoperculor  spines  seven-eights  of  its  length  ; 
the  up23er  surface  of  the  head  is  quite  flat,  the  ridges  being  very 
slight  and  unarmed.  The  eyes  are  two  diameters  from  the  snout, 
and  one  diameter  apart.  Two  moderate  prseopercular  spines,  the 
upper  shorter  than  the  lower.  Lateral  line  smooth.  Colour  above 
mottled  dark  brown,  beneath  yellow,  the  soft  dorsal  rays  and 
upper  half  of  the  caudal  fine  spotted  with  black.  Length  16 
inches. 

Lower  Burdekin.     Salt  water. 

The  afiinity  of  this  species  is  to  P.  insidiator,  from  which  it 
difiers  in  the  greater  width  of  head,  in  the  number  of  the  anal 
rays,  and  in  the  diflferently  marked  tail. 

GOBIID^. 

26.  Periophthalmus  Australis.     Casteln. 
Mad,  Cat  Fishes,  Proc.  Linn.  Soc,  N.  S.  Wales.  Vol.  5,  p.  614. 
Burdekin  and  Mary  Rivers,  in  Mangrove  Creeks. 

27.  Eleotris  planiceps.    n.  sp. 

D.  6.  1/8.     A.  1/9.     L.,  lat.  32. 

Nine  series  of  scales  between  the  origin  of  the  second  dorsal 
fin  and  the  anal.  Height  of  body  one-fourth  of  the  total  lengthy 
back  from  the  second  dorsal  to  the  snout  very  flat,  head  scaly  to 
the  snout,  the  scales  larger  than  those  on  the  body,  the  eyes  are 
about  five  diameters  apart,  the  maxillary  does  not  quite  reach  to 
the  vertical  from  the  anterior  margin  of  the  eye.  Colour, 
brownish  black,  a  little  lighter  on  the  belly.    Length,  11  inches. 


BY  WILLIAM  MACLEAY,  F.L.S.,  &C.  207 

Lillesmere  Lagoon,  Burdekin  River. 

In  many  respects  this  species  resembles  E.  aporos.  I  cannot 
find,  however,  any  trace  of  the  streaks  on  the  cheeks,  so  con- 
spicuous in  the  last  named  fish. 

ATHERINID^. 

28.    A.THERINICHTHYS    MACULATUS.       n.  Sp. 

D.  7.  1/8.     A.   1/7.     L.,  lat.,  32.     L.,  tr.,  8. 

Elongate,  slightly  compressed ;  height  of  body  about  seven 
times  in  the  total  length.  Snout  pointed,  mouth  very  small, 
protractile ;  head  broad  and  flat  between  the  eyes,  the  space  equal 
to  the  diameter  of  the  eye,  which  is  very  large  ;  prseoperculum 
short  with  a  double  smooth  edge.  The  ventral  fin  commences 
opposite  the  termination  of  the  pectorals  ;  the  first  dorsal  com- 
mences opposite  the  middle  of  the  ventrals,  and  the  soft  dorsal 
and  anal  opposite  one  another,  and  of  equal  size.  The  colour  is 
silvery,  with  a  black  spot  in  the  middle  of  each  scale,  giving  the 
appearance  of  eight  interrupted  black  lines  along  each  side  of  the 
body,  there  is  also  a  blackish  band  from  the  snout  through  the  eye 
to  the  base  of  the  pectoral  fin.     Length,  3  inches. 

Lillesmere  Lag"oon,  Burdekin. 

MUGILID^. 

29.   MuGiL  Waigiensis.     Quoy  and  Gaim. 

MacL,  Mugil,  Aust.  Proc.  Linn.  Soc,  Is.  S-  Wales,  Yol.  4, 
p.  420. 

Lower  Burdekin.     Salt  water. 

This  fine  mullett  which  rivals  in  size  and  excellence  M.  grandis, 
seems  to  be  found  along  the  whole  coast  of  Queensland.  I  have 
specimens  from  Port  Darwin.  I  found  it  abundant  at  Cape  York 
in  July  1875,  and  Mr.  Morton  found  it  in  shoals  in  the  Lower 
Burdekin,  where  it  is  extensively  salted  by  Chinese  curers,  and 
sold  readily  at  6d.  per  lb. 

A  number  of  this  fish  salted  and  dried  by  Mr.  Morton,  were  I 
believe,  taken  by  Mr.  Ramsay  to  the  London  Fisheries  Exhibition. 


208        NOTES  ON  A  COLLECTION  OF  FISHES  FROM  QUEENSLAND, 

30.  MuGiL  DOBULA.     Gunth. 

Macl.  Mugil.  Aust.  Proc.  Linn.  Soc.  N.  S.  Wales,  vol,  4,  p.  414. 
Burdekin  and  Mary  E-ivers.     Fresh  and  brackish  water. 
This  fish  is  found  in  all  or  nearly  all   the  rivers  of  New  South 
Wales,  on  the  eastern  water  shed. 

31.  MuGiL  Eamsayi.  n.  sp. 
D.  4.  1/8,  A.  3/1.     L.  lat.  36,  L.  tr.  9-10. 

The  height  of  the  body  is  one-fourth,  and  the  length  of  the  head 
is  one-sixth  of  the  total  length.  Body  somewhat  compressed, 
about  equally  and  slightly  convex  above  and  below.  Head 
convex  between  the  eyes  ;  snout  short,  convex,  obtusely  pointed ; 
lips  thin,  very  densely  and  minutely  ciliated ;  no  teeth ;  bony 
tuburcles  on  the  palate  ;  maxillary  small,  but  visible  along  its 
whole  length,  and  not  reaching  to  the  vertical  from  the  anterior 
margin  of  the  eye.  Eyes  moderate,  without  adipose  membrane, 
distant  about  one  of  their  diameters  from  the  snout,  and  more 
than  two  diameters  from  one  another ;  the  pracorbital  is  finely 
crenulated  above  the  maxillary.  The  pectoral  fins  are  about  as 
long  as  the  head,  with  a  dark  spot  at  the  insertion  of  the  spine, 
and  a  pointed  scale  in  the  axil ;  the  ventrals  are  situated  below  the 
middle  of  the  pectorals ;  the  first  dorsal  above  the  posterior  half 
of  the  ventrals  ;  the  anal  commences  perceptibly  in  advance  of  the 
soft  dorsal ;  and  the  caudal  is  slightly  emarginate.  Colour  silvery 
all  over,  with  a  bluish  tint  on  the  back.     Length,  8  inches. 

Burdekin  River,  in  brackish  v/ater. 

SILURID^. 

32.  Neosilurus  Hyrtlii.     Steind. 
Mac.  Cat.  Fishes,  Proc.  Linn.  Soc.  N.  S.  Wales,  vol.  6,  p.  208. 
Mary  Kiver,  in  fresh  water. 

33.  Copidoglanis  tandanus.     Mitchell. 
Mac.  Cat.  Fishes,  Proc.  Linn.  Soc.  N.  S.  Wales,  vol.  6,  p.  205. 
Mary  River,  in  fresh  water. 
Found  also  in  all  the  rivers  of  the  Murray  system. 


BY    WILLIAM    MACLEAY,  F.L.S.,  &C.  209 

34.  Arius  Australis.     Gunih. 
Macl.  Cat.  Fishes,  Proc.  Linn.  Soc.  N.  S.  Wales,  vol.  6,  p.  213. 
Burclekin  and  Mary  Rivers,  in  lagoons. 

SCOMBRESOCIDOE. 
35.  Belone  Krefftil     G-unth. 
Macl.  Cat.  Fishes,  Proc.  Linn.  Soc.  K  S.  Wales,  vol.  6,  p.  242. 
Burdekin  River,  in  fresh  water  lagoons. 
A  fine  fish,  attaining  a  great  size. 

CLUPEID^. 
36.  Engraulis  Hamiltoni.     Gray. 
Gunth.  Cat.  Fishes,  vol.  7,  p.  395. 
Lower  Burdekin  in  shoals,  Oct.  1882.     Salt  water. 
The  largest  and  finest  species  of  anchovy  I  have  ever  seen, 

37.  Chatoessus  Erebi.     Gunth. 
Macl.  Aust.  Clup.,  Proc.  Linn.  Soc.  N.  S.  Wales,  vol.  4,  p.  368. 
Lower  Burdekin,  in  fresh  water. 

38.  Chatoessus  elongatus.      n.  sp. 
D.  14,  A.  19,  L.  lat  42. 

The  height  of  the  body  is  one-third  of  the  length  without  the 
caudal  fin,  and  is  a  little  more  than  the  length  of  the  head.  The 
eye  which  is  two-thirds  hidden  by  an  adipose  membrane,  is  distant 
from  the  point  of  the  snout  about  one  and  a-half  of  its  diameter ; 
the  profile  of  the  head  is  longer  and  fiatter  than  in  C.  Erehi.  The 
abdomen  is  strongly  serrated  along  its  whole  length,  the  scales  are 
not  deciduous.  The  last  dorsal  ray  reaches  to  the  commencement  of 
the  caudal  fin ;  the  ventrals  commence  opposite  the  third  ray  of 
the  dorsal.  The  colour  is  silvery,  with  the  back  and  fins  darker. 
Length,  11  inches. 

Lagoons,  Mary  River,  in  fresh  water. 

39.  Clupea  Sundaica.     Bleek. 
Atl.  Ichth.  Clup.,  p.  105,  tab.  271,  fig.  5. 
Lower  Burdekin  in  salt  water. 

A  full  account  of  this  valuable  herring  will  <be  found  in  my 
monograph  of  the  Clupeidse  of  Australia,  published  in  the  4th 
volume  of  our  Society's  Proceedings. 


210       NOTES  ON  A  COLLECTION  OF  FISHES  FROM  QUEENSLAND, 

40.  Elops  saurus.     Linn. 
Macl.  Aust.  Clup.  Proc.  Linn.  See.  N.  S.  Wales,  vol.  4,  p.  382. 
Lower  Burdekin,  in  salt  and  fresh  water. 

41.  Megalops  Cyprinoides.     Brouss. 
Macl.  Aust.  Clup.  Proc.  Linn.  See.  N.  S.  Wales,  vol.  4,  p.  383. 
Lower  Burdekin,  in  lagoons. 

This  herring  is  frequently  kept  in  tanks  in  and  about  Pinang, 
where  they  rapidly  multiply  and  fatten. 

42.  Chanos   salmoneus.     B1. 

Macl.  Aust.  Clup.  Proc.  Linn.  Soc,  N.  S.  Wales,  Vol.  4,  p.  383. 

Lower  Burdekin  in  fresh  and  salt  water. 

This,  the  finest  of  all  the  Herring  tribe,  both  as  regards  size  and 
quality,  though  rare  on  the  New  South  Wales  coast,  becomes 
abundant  in  the  tropical  estuaries  of  Queensland.  It  can  readily 
be  domesticated  and  multiplied  in  tanks  or  lagoons,  and  certainly 
would  prove  much  more  worthy  of  a  little  care  in  cultivation 
than  the  much  vaunted  "  gourami  "  ( Osphromenus  olfax). 

43.  Chirocentrus  dorab.     Forsk. 
Macl.  Cat.  Fishes  Proc.  Linn.  Soc,  N.  S.  Wales,  Vol.  6  p.  263. 
Lower  Burdekin  in  salt  water. 

Dr.  Cantor  says  that  this  Fish  is  common  in  Malacca,  where  it 
attains  a  length  of  six  feet,  and  is  much  relished  by  the  natives. 

MUR^NID^. 

44.  Anguilla  Reiniiardtri.      Steind. 
Macl.  Cat.  Fishes  Proc.  Linn.  Soc,  N.  S.  Wales,  Vol.  6,  p.  267. 
Mary  Biver  and  Lillesmere  Lagoon. 

45.  Anguilla  marginipinnis,  n.  sp. 
Head  broad,  depressed  and  rounded  in  front ;  the  lips  are 
fleshy  and  form  a  reflexed  fold  on  the  sides ;  mouth  large,  the 
gape  extending  to  a  little  behind  the  eye,  which  is  small.  Teeth 
small,  in  broad  flat  bands  in  both  jaws,  a  band  on  the  vomer  of 
about  the  same  size  as  the  maxillary  bands,  but  not  quite  so  long 


BY   WILLIAM    MACLEAY,  F.L.S.,  &C.  211 

aud  tapering  behind.  The  distance  from  the  snout  to  the  gill- 
opening  is  very  nearly  equal  to  that  from  the  giil-opening  to  the 
commencement  of  the  dorsal  fin,  which  is  double  the  distance  from 
thence  to  the  vent.  The  tail  is  only  a  little  longer  than  the 
body.  In  a  specimen  measuring  in  all  thirty -two  inches,  the 
distance  from  the  snout  to  the  vent  measured  fifteen  inches, 
leaving  seventeen  inches  for  the  tail.  Colour  dark  brown,  with 
the  under  side  of  the  head  and  body  of  a  pale  yellow  ;  all  the  fins 
are  narrowly  margined  with  white. 
Lillesmere  Lagoon.      Burdekin. 

SCLERODERMI. 

46.    TrI ACANTHUS    BIACULEATUS.    Bl. 

Macl.  Cat.  Fish  Proc.  Linn.  Soc,  N.  S,  Wales,  Vol.  6,  p.  308. 
Lower  Burdekin,  salt  water. 

GYMNODONTES. 

47.    TeTRODON    RETICULARIS.       Bl. 

Gunth.  Cat.  Fishes,  Vol.  8,  p.  296. 
Lower  Burdekin,  salt  water. 

48.  Tetrodon  l^vigatus.     L. 
Macl.  Cat.  Fishes  Proc.  Linn.  Soc,  N.  S.  Wales,  Vol.  6,  p.  336. 
Lower  Burdekin,  salt  water. 

SIBENOIDEL 

49.  Ceratodus  Forsteri.    Krefil. 

Macl.  Cat.  Fishes  Proc.  Linn.  Soc,  N.  S.  Wales,  Vol.  6,  p.  347. 

Mary  and  Burnett  Rivers. 

Mr.  Morton  got  twelve  specimens  of  this  Fish  in  the  Mary,  one 
only  in  a  net,  all  the  others  were  trapped  by  the  blacks  by  being 
forced  through  a  narrow  passage  in  the  river  formed  by  a  kind  of 
weir  of  brushwood.  A  curious  circumstance  as  regards  the  habits 
of  this  fish  was  noticed  by  Mr.  Morton.  At  the  time  of  his  visit, 
a  number  of  the  Eiccalypti  on  the  banks  of  the  rivers  were  in  full 
flower,  and  the  blossoms  as  they  dropped  into  the  water  were 
eagerly  seized  and  swallowed  by  the  Ceratodus,  and  in  every 
specimen  which  he  got,  he  found  the  stomach  literally  crammed 
with  these  flowers. 


212        NOTES  ON  A  COLLECTION  OF  FISHES  FROM  QUEENSLAND, 

Mr.  Morton  also  ascertained  from  an  old  resident  and  fisherman, 
that  he  had  observed  the  Ceratodus  going  in  pairs  in  the  months 
of  June,  July,  and  August,  that  they  make  slight  indentations  in 
the  muddy  bottom  in  from  six  to  ten  feet  depth  of  water,  in 
which  they  deposit  their  spawn ;  that  the  male  and  female  seem 
to  remain  near  the  spawn,  and  are  then  not  easily  disturbed  ;  that 
they  frequent  the  same  places  every  year,  and  that  the  spawn  much 
resembles  that  of  a  frog.  The  same  informant  also  says  that  he 
has  taken  the  spawn,  hatched  it  in  a  tub  of  water,  and  kept  the 
young  alive  for  some  weeks. 

TRYGONID^. 
5C.  Trygon  uarnak.    Forsk. 
Macl.  Cat.  Fishes  Proc.  Linn.  Soc,  N.  S.  Wales,  Vol.  6,  p.  377. 
Lower  Burdekin,  salt  water. 

51.  Trygon  sephen.     Forsk. 
Gunth.  Cat.  8,  p.  482. 
Lower  Burdekin.     Salt  water. 

52.  T^niura  Mortoni.     n.  sp. 

Disk  sub-circular;  tail  one-half  longer  than  the  body,  with  a 
broad  rayless  fin  beneath  extending  to  the  extremity.  Disk  in 
the  centre  dark  brown,  covered  with  close  minute  spines  and 
with  three  or  four  round  flattened  tubercles  in  the  line  of  the  back 
on  the  scapular  region.  Sides  of  disk  smooth,  or  finely  granular 
and  of  a  paler  colour. 

Lower  Burdekin.     Salt  water. 

In  the  foregoing  list,  I  have  included  all  the  fishes  taken  by 
Mr.  Morton  within  the  mouths  of  the  Burdekin  and  Mary  Bivers, 
but  it  is  evident  that  numbers  of  them  are  purely  sea  fishes,  and 
have  no  more  right  to  be  classed  as  belonging  to  these  rivers,  than 
fishes  caught  in  Port  Jackson,  have  to  be  called  Parramatta  Biver 
fishes.  Of  the  51  species  mentioned,  17  are  essentially  sea  fishes. 
Serranus  estuarius,  Diagramma  affine,  and  labiosum,  Gerres 
filamentosus,  Scatophagus  multifasciatus,  Chrysophrys  hasta, 
Caranx  Georgianus  and  compressus,  Chorinemus  lysan  and  toloo 


I 


BY    WILLIAM    MACLEAY,  F.L.S.,   &C.  213 

Equula  edentula,  Cybium  semifasciatum,  Chirocentrus  dorab,  Tria- 
canthus  biaculeatus,  Tetrodon  reticularis  and  lyevigatus,  Trjgon 
Uarnak  and  Seplien,  Ta^niura  Mortoni.  Eleven  may  be  classed  as 
salt-water  fishes  occasionally  ascending  rivers  into  fresh  water : — 
Lates  Darwiniensis,  Pseudolates  cavifrons,  Polynemus  tetradacty- 
lus,  Corvina  argentea,  Platycephalus  Mortoni,  Periophthalmus  aus- 
tralis,  Mugil  Waigiensis,  Engraulis  Hamiltoni,  Clupea  Sundaica, 
Elops  saurus,  Chanos  salmoneiis.  The  freshwater  fishes  occa- 
sionally visiting  the  sea,  are  seven  in  number  : — Mugil  dobula 
and  Ramsayi,  Chatoessus  Erebi,  and  elongatus,  Megalops 
cyprinoides,  Anguilla  Peinhardtii  and  marginipinnis.  The 
entirely  fresh  water  fishes  are  fifteen  in  number : — Apogo- 
nichtys  Gillii,  Oligorus  macquariensis,  Therapon  truttaceus, 
percoides,  longulus,  fuliginosns  and  parviceps,  Centropogon 
robustus,  Eleotris  planiceps,  Atherinichthys  maculatus,  Neosilurus 
Hyrtlii,  Copidoglanis  tandanus,  Arius  Australis,  Belone  Krefiftii, 
Ceratodus  Forsteri. 


Notes  on  the  Method  of  Obtaining  Water  from  Eucalyptus 
Boots  as  practiced  by  the  Natives  of  the  Country, 
between  the  Lachlan  and  Darling  Rivers. 

By  K.  H.  Bennett,  Esq. 

The  country  situated  between  the  Lachlan  and  Darling  Rivers 
(in  some  places  nearly  200  miles  wide)  was  until  recent  years, 
before  its  occupation  for  pastoral  purposes,  even  in  ordinary 
seasons  entirely  destitute  of  water  for  several  months  in  each 
year,  and  the  natives  who  formerly  claimed  and  roamed  over  the 
country  for  a  distance  of  forty  or  fifty  miles  from  the  above 
named  rivers,  were  compelled  daring  the  hot  dry  months  to  resort 
to  their  banks,  and  remain  there  until  the  uncertain  rainfall  of 
this  region  had  replenished  the  shallow  swamps  and  waterholes  ; 
but  with  the  scattered  tribes  or  rather  families  who  inhabited  the 
still  more  arid  intermediate  portion,  and  between  whom  and  the 
river  natives  a  bitter  feud  existed,  the  case  was  different;  here 
p 


214   METHOD  OF  OBTAINING  WATER  FROM  EUCALYPTUS  ROOTS, 

they  liad  no  river  to  fall  back  upon,  and  except  in  the  rare 
intervals  of  peace,  such  was  their  dread  of  their  more  powerful 
and  fortunate  neighbours  that  they  would  not  venture  near  where 
they  knew  a  never  failing  supply  of  the  much  prized  element  was 
easily  obtainable,  and  consequently  as  may  be  imagined  by  those 
unacquainted  with  the  resources  of  the  country  would  soon  become 
the  victims  of  that  horrible  fate,  Death  from  thirst !  Such,  how- 
ever, was  not  the  case,  for  Nature  as  if  to  make  amends  for  the 
scarcity  of  water  above  ground  has  in  this  inhospitable  region 
provided  a  perennial  supply  in  the  roots  of  several  species  of  trees, 
which  for  the  most  part  are  unknown  on  the  country  nearer  the 
rivers.  On  these  roots — the  natives  in  former  times  as  a  rule — 
used  to  depend  for  their  supply  of  water  for  four  or  five  months 
of  every  year  (and  in  times  of  drought  for  the  whole  of  the 
year).  All  this,  however,  refers  to  a  bygone  time,  the  whole  or 
nearly  all  of  this  country  has  of  late  years  been  occupied  for 
pastoral  purposes.  Wells  and  tanks  have  been  sunk,  and  per- 
manent water  by  these  means  secured,  the  river  blacks  have  been 
almost  "  civilized  "  off  the  face  of  the  earth  ;  the  old  feud  has  died 
out,  and  the  remnant  of  the  back  country  natives  have  abandoned 
— except  when  traversing  a  strip  of  unoccupied  country — their 
time  honoured  and  somewhat  laborious  method  of  obtaining  water 
from  roots.  There  are  several  kinds  of  trees  from  which  water 
was  obtained,  including  three  species  of  Eucalyptus,  a  species 
of  Hakea  and  Currajong.  The  Eucalypti  consist  of  a  gum  (the 
largest  of  the  back  country  trees),  a  box,  and  mallee.  The  first 
named  was  the  most  preferred,  as  yielding  the  greatest  quantity, 
and  as  the  method  was  the  same  in  all  cases — this  one  will  serve 
for  a  description  of  the  modus  operandi.  This  tree  which  some- 
what resembles  the  red  gum  in  appearance — the  leaves  being 
narrower  and  of  a  silvery  colour — grows  chiefly  on  sandy  or  light 
loamy  soil,  and  throws  out  numerous  lateral  roots  at  a  depth  of  from 
six  to  twelve  inches  from  the  surface  of  the  ground.  The  native 
having  ascertained  the  position  of  one  or  more  of  these  roots  by 
repeatedly  jobbing  the  point  of  a  spear  or  sharpened  stick  into 
the  soft  earth,  and  at  a  distance  of  some    six  or  eight  feet  from 


BY    K.  H.  BENNETT,   ESQ.  215 

the  trunk  of  the  tree,  quickly  removes  the  superincumbent  soil 
with  his  wooden  shovel  for  twenty  or  thirty  feet,  and  cutting  the 
root  off  at  each  end  lifts  it  out  of  the  trench  and  cuts  it  up  into 
lengths  of  about  eighteen  inches  or  two  feet,  knocks  off  the  bark 
and  stands  the  severed  portions  on  end  in  some  receptacle  to 
contain  the  water,  (in  former  times  a  water-bag  made  of  the 
entire  skin  of  a  male  wallaby.)  As  soon  as  these  pieces  are 
placed  on  end  the  water  commences  to  drip,  and,  when  the  whole 
of  the  root  or  roots  are  cut  up  and  placed  on  end,  the  native 
beginning  at  the  first  placed,  puts  the  end  in  his  mouth  and  by  a 
vigorous  puff  expels  the  remaining  water.  The  roots  chosen  are — 
with  the  bark  on — about  the  size  of  a  man's  wrist,  the  larger  ones 
being  more  woody  and  less  porous  contain  little  or  no  water.  The 
water  is  beautifully  clear,  cool,  and  free  from  any  unpleasant  taste 
or  smell. 


Note  on  a  Viviparous  Lizard  (Hinulia  elegans.) 
By  J.  J.  Fletcher,  M.A.,  B.Sc. 

In  vol.  ii.,  p.  167,  of  the  late  lamented  Prof.  Balfour's 
Comparative  Embryology,  it  is  said  that  "  a  few  forms  (of  Rej^tilia) 
are  viviparous,  viz.,  some  of  the  blind-worms  amongst  lizards 
(Anguis,  Sejis),  and  some  of  the  Viperidse  and  Hydrophidse  amongst 
the  serpents.  In  the  majority  of  cases,  however,  the  eggs  are  laid 
in  moist  earth,  sand,  &c." 

[n  Prof.  Owen's  Anatomy  of  Yerteb.,  vol.  i.,  p  616,  it  is  staled 
that  "  the  common  ringed  snake  excludes  the  eggs,  sixteen  to 
twenty  in  number,  connected  together  with  a  glutinous  coating, 
usually  in  some  fermenting  mass  of  decaying  organic  matter, 
whereby  they  are  often  transported  and  spread  abroad  in  the 
manuring  of  fields  and  gardens.  The  viper  is  not  subject  to  this 
ovipositing  cause  of  dispersion,  and  the  confinement  to  a  limited 
locality  would  seem  to  be  the  condition  of  the  viviparity  of  most  or 
all  poisonous  snakes  It  affects  however,  the  harmless  slow-worm 
(Anguis  fragilis),  and  nimble  lizard  {Zootoca  vivipara),  both  of 
which  usually  produce  their  young  alive." 


216  NOTE    ON    A    VIVIPAROUS    LIZARD, 

The  lizards  and  snakes  mentioned  in  the  preceding  paragraphs 
are  European,  but  some  of  our  Australian  forms  exhibit  the  same 
peculiarity  of  being  viviparous  ;  though  I  am  able  to  find  but  few 
remarks  on  the  subject.  Dr.  Giinther  in  his  Catalogue  of 
Colubrine  Snakes,  says  that  Hoplocephalus  pallidiceps  and  H. 
coronoides  are  viviparous,  and  that  he  took  two  perfectly  developed 
embryos  from  the  oviduct  of  a  specimen  of  the  former,  and  four 
embryos  from  a  specimen  of  the  latter. 

The  late  Mr.  Krefft  in  his  "Notes  on  Australian  Yerteb,,"  says 
of  Trachydosaurus,  that  "  the  female  produces  a  pair  of  young  ones 
of  considerable  size,  about  the  end  of  January.  This  is  the  only 
recorded  instance  of  a  viviparous  lizard  that  I  have  so  far  been 
able  to  meet  with.* 

At  Burrawang,  N.S.W.,  in  January  last  I  captured  a  lizard 
having  a  much  swollen  abdomen,  and  when  this  was  squeezed,  two 
almost  fully  developed  young  ones,  each  of  which  was  still  attached 
to  a  portion  of  unabsorbed  yolk,  and  enclosed  in  a  thin  transparent 
chorion  so-called,  made  their  exit  from  the  cloacal  aperture.  As 
this  seemed  interesting,  more  specimens  were  sought,  and  two 
were  subsequently  obtained  and  more  carefully  examined.  In  one 
of  them  the  posterior  portion  of  each  oviduct,  lodged  a  young  one 
about  2  in.  long,  which  had  its  limbs  and  tail  completely  formed, 
and  was  coiled  round  upon  the  remaining  portion  of  the  yolk.  In 
the  other,  there  were  two  slightly  more  advanced  embryos  in  each 
oviduct ;  the  two  anterior  embryos  reached  as  far  forward  as  the 
stomach,  and  when  seen  from  the  ventral  aspect,  were  overlaid  by 
the  liver  to  a  small  extent.  The  gut  was  displaced  and  the  abdominal 
cavity  enormously  distended,  When  uncoiled,  the  young  ones 
measured  2  J  in.  from  the  snout  to  the  tip  of  the  tail,  as  compared 
with  about  7  in.  in  the  mother,  in  each  case  the  tail  being  a  little 
more  than  half  the  whole  length,  As  is  usual  in  the  viviparous 
species,  the  chorion  in  each  instance  was  thin  and  transparent,  and 
quite  devoid  of   the  calcareous  matter,  with  which  in  oviparous 


*  Mr.  Krefft  in  his  monograph  on  the  "  Snakes  of  Australia,"  mentions 
other  viviparous  species. 


BY   J.  J.  FLETCHER,  M.A.,  B.SC.  217 

species  it  is  more  less  impregnated.  Prof.  Owen  figures  the  organs 
of  a  specimen  of  Zootoca,  which  had  three  ova  in  one  oviduct  and 
two  in  the  other.  The  general  arrangement  in  my  specimens  was 
just  as  is  figured  in  this  one. 

The  point  dealt  with  in  this  note  is  not  of  any  importance,  but 
is  I  think  sufiiciently  interesting  to  be  recorded,  in  the  hope  that 
others  may  be  induced  to  take  up  the  neglected  subject  of  the 
oviposition  of  our  reptiles. 

Note. — After  the  proof  of  the  above  had  been  returned  to  the  printer,  I 
met  with  Mr.  Kreff"t's  paper  "  On  the  Vertebrata  of  the  Lower  Darling,"  in 
the  Proceedings  of  the  Philosophical  Society  of  N.S.W.,  Vol.  I.  In  this 
paper  the  author  enumerates  a  considerable  number  of  oviparous  lizards, 
and  gives  a  good  deal  of  information  about  them.  In  addition  to  Trachydo- 
saurus,  it  is  stated  that  Cyclodus  gigas  also  is  viviparous  ;  but  of  three 
species  of  Hinulia  met  with — including  H.  elegans — Mr.  Krefft  says  that  it 
has  not  been  ascertained  how  many  eggs  they  lay,  and  he  suggests  that  they 
may  possibly  be  viviparous,  and  produce  as  many  as  ten  or  twelve  young. 
I  regret  my  inability  to  refer  to  this  paper  in  its  proper  place.  Mr.  Krefft's 
communication  shews  that  the  subject  of  oviposition  of  Australian  reptiles 
is  not  altogether  a  neglected  one,  and  that  there  is  yet  room  for  further 
observations. 


Notes  and  Exhibits. 

Professor  Stephens  exhibited  a  photograph  and  a  sketch 
forwarded  by  Mr.  C.  Jenkins,  representing  a  fossil  from  the 
Devonian  formation  of  the  Murrumbidgee  Yalley,  near  Yass. 
This  very  remarkable  specimen  is  the  head  of  some  Ganoid  fish, 
evidently  belonging  to  the  Devonian  period,  and  characterised  by 
strong  bony  scales,  deeply  sculptured,  and  united  by  close  sutures. 
Two  of  these  are  perforated  by  large  sub-circular  orbits  for  the  eyes. 
Other  portions  of  tlie  same  specimen  had  been  forwarded  to  the 
Australian  Museum  while  Mr.  Jenkins  was  engaged  in  the 
exploration  of  the  Cavan  Caves  ;  and  some  other  fragments  have 
since,  it  is  believed,  been  recovered.  Mr,  Jenkins  is  inclined  to 
refer  it  to  Asterolepis  (which  is  closely  connected  with  Pterichthys), 
but  chiefly  on  account  of  the  character  of  sculpture  of  the  scales. 
On  the  same  ground,  he  doubts  its  relationship  to  Gmcosteus  or  Cepha- 
laspis.  Prof  Stephens  added  that  without  the  actual  specimen  before 
them  with  all  its  collected  fragments,  it  would  be   premature   to 


218  NOTES   AND    EXHIBITS. 

determine  even  the  genus  of  this  ancient  fish  ;  but  pointed  out 
that  it  appeared  to  have  some  points  of  resemblance  to  Macro- 
petalichthys  of  the  North  American  Devonians. 

Mr.  Macleay  exhibited  specimens  of  a  small  Moth  [Tineidae), 
the  larva  of  which  was  creating  great  havoc  in  the  vegetable 
gardens  in  and  about  Sydney,  completely  eating  up  the  leaves 
of  the  cabbages  and  cauliflowers,  and  rendering  the  entire  crop 
utterly  useless.  The  Caterpillar,  a  number  of  which  were  ex- 
hibited, is  an  active,  slightly  hairy,  green  worm;  the  pupa  is 
also  green  and  is  fastened  on  the  under  side  of  the  leaf  on 
which  it  has  fed,  by  a  cocoon  of  beautiful  open  lace  work. 
The  rapidity  with  which  this  insect  seems  to  reproduce  itself  is 
most  astounding,  and  accounts  for  the  short  work  it  makes  of  a 
bed  of  cabbages.  The  insect  was,  it  is  said,  first  noticed  last  year, 
and  then  not  in  destructive  numbers,  so  that  it  will  probably  be 
found  to  be  an  importation. 

Mr.  Macleay  also  exhibited  the  foetus  of  Halmaturus  rujicollls, 
taken  from  the  pouch  of  the  mother,  with  the  umbilical  cord 
attached,  illustrating  the  extremely  early  age  at  which  the 
young  leave  the  uterus. 

Mr.  H.  A.  Gilliat  exhibited  a  collection  of  cretaceous  fossils  from 
the  Mount  Brown  diggings.  With  reference  to  this  exhibit  the 
Vice-President  made  a  few  remarks  on  its  value  and  interest.  He 
said  that  the  cretaceous  formation  was  known  to  extend  through- 
out the  whole  eastern  interior  of  the  Continent,  and  probably 
through  the  centre,  but  not  much  was  known  of  the  fossils.  The 
abundance  of  Avicula  alata,  Eth.,  in  this  collection  showed  such  a 
wide-spread  prevalence  of  this  fossil,  that  he  considered  it  the  most 
characteristic  species  of  the  formation.  The  rock  was  curiously 
like  the  Greensand  of  Europe.  The  collection  contained  valuable 
additions  to  our  knowledge  of  the  fauna. 

Mr.  J.  J.  Fletcher  exhibited  (1.)  ^  specimen  of  a  Giant  Earth- 
worm, 25  in.  long,  from  Burrawang,  N.S.W.  It  probably  belongs 
to  Prof.  M'Coy's  genus  Megascolides,  and  its  existence  in  this 
colony  is  now  recorded  for  the  first  time.  (2.)  The  plates  Den- 
drolagus  inustus  and  D.  ursinus  from  Profs.  Schlegel  and  Miiller's 


NOTES    AND    EXHIBITS.  219 

work  on  the  Mammals  of  the  Indian  Archipelago,  for  comparison 
with  the  specimen  of  a  new  species  of  Dendrolagus  exhibited  by 
the  Hon.  Wm.  Macleay  at  the  last  meeting,  (3.)  Specimens  of 
the  Lizard  referred  to  in  his  paper. 

Professor  Stephens  exhibited  a  pebble  from  Casino,  containing 
an  included  drop  of  water,  which  did  not  entirely  fill  the  space  in 
which  it  was  enclosed.  The  stone  was  a  nodule  of  chalcedony,  evi- 
dently washed  out  of  a  volcanic  rock,  in  a  cavity  of  which  it  had  been 
formed  by  infiltration  of  hydrous  silica,  the  process  having  been 
in  all  probability  only  arrested  by  the  decomposition  of  the  matrix 
and  consequent  liberation  of  the  nodule.  The  cavity  had  been 
first  lined  by  some  (probably)  zeolitic  mineral,  forming  a  mammil- 
lary  surface,  which  had  been  subsequently  covered  by  the  inner 
and  harder  silicioiis  substance  which  now  enclosed,  the  drop  of 
water  accompanied  by  some  gas.  The  phenomenon  is  not  at  all 
uncommon,  but  often  escapes  notice. 

He  also  exhibited  a  Chrysalis  of  a  Danais,  secured  by  a  silk  line 
to  a  leaf  of  an  exotic  Pelargonium. 


WEDNESDAY,  MAY  30th,  1883. 


The  Vice-President,  tbe  Rev.  J.  E.  Tenison- Woods,  F.L.S.,  etc. 
in  the  Chair. 


MEMBERS   ELECTED. 


Thomas  Whitelegge,    Esq.,    and    Henry    Deane,    Esq.,    M.A., 
A.M.LC.E.,  of  Gladesville. 


DONATIONS. 

"Bulletin  de  la  Societe  Royale  de  Geographie  d'Anvers,"  Tome 
vii.,  6e  Fascicule,  8vo,  1882. 

"  Science,"  a  new  American  illustrated  Journal,  published 
weekly,  vol.  i.,  No    1,  February,  1883.     From  the  Editor. 

*'  Mittheilungen  aus  der  Zoologischen  Station  zu  Neapel," 
Vierter  (iv.)  Band,  1  Heft,  8vo,  1882. 

"Journal  of  Conchology,"  vol.  iii.,  Nos.  11  and  12,  July  and 
October,  1882.     From  the  Conchological  Society  of  Great  Britain. 

"Feuille  des  Jeunes  Naturalistes,"  No.  150,  April,  1883.  From 
the  "  Directeur." 

"Sydney  University  Calendar,"  1882-83.     From  the  Senate. 

A  series  of  Papers  (12  in  number),  chiefly  on  recent  and  fossil 
Bryozoa.     By  Arthur  W.  Waters,  F.G.S.,  &c.     From  the  Author. 

"New  Zealand  Journal  of  Science,"  vol.  i.,  No.  9,  May,  1883. 
From  the  Publishers. 

"  Bulletin  de  la  Societe  Imperiale  des  Naturalistes  de  Moscou," 
No.  1,  1882.     From  the  Society. 

"  Report  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Australian  Museum  for  the 
the  year  1882.     From  the  Trustees. 


notes  on  a  lower  jaw  of  palorchestes  azael.        221 

Notes  on  a  Lower  Jaw  of  Palorchestes  Azael. 
By  Charles  W.  De  Yis,  B.A. 
It  may  perhaps  be  allowed  that  a  small  accession  to  our  scanty 
knowledge  of  Australian  palaeosteology  may  be  useful,  even  tliough 
it  merely  tend  to  increase  our  acquaintance  with  known  forms, 
and  define  their  taxonomic  relations.  By  the  kindness  of  one  of 
the  Trustees  of  the  Queensland  Museum,  W.  H.  Miskin,  Esq.,  an 
opportunity  is  given  of  describing  the  lower  dentition  and  form 
of  jaw  in  a  very  young  Palorchestes  Azael,  (Owen),  and  of  noting 
thereby  some  features  of  interest,.  The  fossil  was  obtained  by  Mr 
Miskin  from  well-sinkers  who  met  with  it  at  a  depth  of  70  feet 
near  St.  Ruth,  on  the  Darling  Downs.  In  the  original  condition 
of  the  specimen  the  mandibles  were  displaced  at  the  symphysis 
forwards  and  upwards,  and  in  this  position  reconnected  by  the 
cementation  of  the  mineralising  agent,  calcium  carbonate.  By 
the  more  unlucky  accident  of  pressure  acting  upon  the  anterior 
third  of  the  jaw  transversely  to  its  long  axis,  both  rami  have  lost 
their  natural  flexure.  The  left  being  certainly  much  straighter — 
the  right  probably  somewhat  more  strongly  and  abruptly  curved 
inwards  at  the  symphysis,  than  in  the  normal  condition.  On  clearing 
away  adhering  matrix,  the  whole  of  the  teeth,  with  the  exception  of 
the  left  premolar,  which  has  been  carried  away  with  a  piece  of  the 
bone,  and  the  second  molar  of  the  same  side,  which  is  fractured, 
were  found  in  excellent  preservation.  The  combined  length  of 
the  series  d^  m'  m^,  is  exactly  as  in  the  portion  of  an  adult 
jaw  figured  by  Professor  Owen  (Foss.  Mant.  Aust.,  PI.  cvi., 
fig.  1).  The  sliallowness  of  the  jaw  below  the  growing  molars, 
characteristic  of  the  young  macropod,  is  a  conspicuous  feature 
of  the  present  fossil  —  its  depth  beneath  the  second  molar 
being  little  more  than  half  that  of  the  adult  mandible,  and 
about  two-thirds  of  the  depth  which  it  attains  below  the  premolar. 
The  evidence  derived  from  this  deeping  of  the  mandible  from 
behind  forward,  tending  to  show  that  Palorchestes  was  more 
nearly  allied  to  the  kangaroo  proper,  than  to  the  Protemnodontidse, 
is  of  some  weight,  since,  though  not  confirmed,  it  is  not  belied  by 


222     NOTES  ON  A  LOWER  JAW  OF  PALORCHESTES  AZAEL, 

the  structure  of  the  premolar.  This  tooth  has  a  form  peculiarly 
its  own,  differing  equally  from  the  subtrenchant  bitubercular  tooth 
of  the  former,  and  the  long  fluted,  chisel-like  tooth  of  the  latter. 
It  is  eight  lines  long  and  three  lines  broad,  of  a  semioval  form, 
with  its  outer  surface  convex  and  sloping  rapidly  downwards.  On 
this  aspect  it  has  tw^o  shallow  indents  at  about  equal  thirds  of  its 
length,  the  posterior  being  the  deeper  and  broader  of  the  two.  On 
its  inner  surface  it  rises  vertically  from  the  socket  into  a  median 
lobe,  separated  from  the  fore  and  hind  angles  by  indents,  of  which 
the  anterior  is  long  and  shallow,  the  posterior  shorter  and  deeper, 
each  of  them  being  separated  from  its  anticlinal  indent,  by  a  short 
median  ridge.  The  apex  of  the  mid  lobe  is  worn  down  sufficiently 
to  expose  an  inwardly  directed  loop  of  dentine,  and  the  general 
shape  of  the  tooth  being  reniform  with  the  pelvis  turned  inward  a 
little  more  attrition  would  extend  the  dentine  loop  into  the  form  of 
an  open  double  curve.  The  prebasal  ridge  of  d*  is  developed  on  its 
outer  two-thirds  only,  and  is  connected  with  the  anterior  lobe  by  a 
minute  link.  The  anterior  lobe,  like  all  the  other  lobes  of  the  teeth 
in  place,  has  on  its  anterior  aspect  a  broad  and  shallow  indent.  The 
median  link  is  well  developed  and,  rising  from  the  middle  of  the 
posterior  surface  of  the  fore  lobe,  subsides  on  the  outer  angle  of  the 
anterior  side  of  the  hinder  lobe.  The  post-basal  ridge  is  equally 
broad  on  either  side  of  the  mid  link — in  other  respects  it  is  as 
described  in  the  worn  tooth  by  Prof.  Owen.  The  same  must  be 
said  of  the  other  characters  of  this  tooth — nor  can  anything  be 
added  of  importance  to  Prof.  Owen's  description  of  m^  itself.  All 
the  teeth  in  place  p^  d^  and  m^  are  equally  worn,  in  each  there  is  a 
narrow  line  of  dentine  exposed  by  the  abrasion  of  the  enamel.  The 
enamel  of  m^  is  of  course  intact,  the  hinder  lobe  of  the  tooth 
having  but  lately  risen  fairly  above  the  gum.  The  incisor  is 
remarkable  for  the  unusual  expansion  of  its  base,  at  the  incisive 
outlet  it  measures  twelve  and  a-half  lines,  a  width  exceeding  its 
whole  length  by  more  than  one-fifth.  Its  inner  edge,  in  opposition 
to  that  of  its  fellow  is  straight,  its  outer  has  a  parabolic  curve  from 
the  outer  angle  of  the  socket  to  the  lip  of  the  inner  edge.  The 
internal  or  posterior  surface  is  at  the  inner  edge  strongly  concave, 


1 


BY    CHARLES    W.  DE   VIS,   B.A.  223 

the  concavity  gradually  decreases  towards  the  outer  edge,  but  on 
the  posterior  surface  of  the  outer  edge  itself  is  a  strong  fold  (formed 
of  a  revolution  of  the  edge  backwards)  running  upwards  from  the 
base  and  subsiding  as  it  reaches  the  cutting  edge.  The  outer  or 
fore  surface  of  the  tooth  is  curved  longitudinally  and  transversely, 
and  is  covered  with  shallow  confluent  excavations.  The  diastema 
is  long,  being  nearly  equal  in  length  to  the  s])ace  occupied  by  the 
three  anterior  grinders.  It  descends  from  the  premolar  with  a 
gentle  curve,  and  rises  with  a  slighter  curve  to  the  incisive  outlet. 
Commencing  about  four  lines  in  front  of  the  vertical  from  the 
premolar,  the  symphysis  presents  a  long  moderately  deep  and 
nearly  horizontal  syndesmotic  surface,  with  longitudinal  rugse. 
The  union  of  the  mandibles  through  much  broader  and 
firmer  than  in  Macropus,  is  far  inferior  in  those  respects 
to  that  of  Procoptodon,  and  corresponds  rather  with  that  of 
Sthenurus.  The  same  observation  applies  to  the  direction  in 
which  the  incisor  is  implanted.  The  dental  foramen  is  midway 
between  the  vertical  from  the  premolar  and  the  incisive  outlet, 
and  is  six  and  a-half  times  below  the  mediasternal  ridge,  in  both 
respects  differing  much  from  its  position  in  Jfacrojjus.  A 
longitudinal  groove  commences  at  the  vertical  from  the  fore 
lobe  of  d^  and  gradually  deepening  as  it  runs  backwards, 
separates  the  lower  border  of  the  mandible  from  the  sub-alveolar 
convexity,  which  increases  rapidly  below  the  permanent  molars. 
The  groove  ends  rather  abruptly  at  the  origin  of  the  inflected  angle. 
The  postalveolar  angle  is  prominent,  the  outer  alveolar  groove, 
narrow  and  shelving.  On  the  outer  side  anteriorly,  the  alveolar 
ridge  is  well  separated  by  compressure  from  the  subalveolar 
convexity  beneath  the  premolar,  and  is  continued  backwards  from 
the  diastema  in  a  straight  slope  to  the  middle  of  m^  The  sub- 
alveolar  convexity  subsides  considerabl}"  beneath  d^,  but  again 
increasing,  is  at  its  greatest  at  the  base  of  the  coronoid  process. 
This  process  appears  to  rise  at  a  comparatively  low  angle.  On 
the  same  parallel  with  the  base  of  the  coronoid  process,  is  the 
commencement  of  the  ridge  bounding  the  outer  crotaphyte  fossa 
posteriorly — but  the  lower  brim  of  that  fossa  does  not  present 
itself  between  the  two  points  as  it  does  in  Macropus. 


224     AUSTRALIAN  AND  POLYNESIAN  LAND  AND  MARINE  MOLLUSCA, 

We  have  in  this  jaw  a  diastema  unlike  that  of  any  known 
macropod,  but  having  its  greatest  similitude  in  StJiemirus.  It  is  in 
the  latter  genus  again  that  we  find  some  approach  to  the  greatly 
dilated  incisor  in  the  mandible  before  us.  It  has  already  been 
observed  that  the  symphysis  is  that  of  Sthenurus  rather  than  of 
Macropus  on  the  one  hand,  or  of  the  more  aberrant  macropod, 
Procojitodon,  on  the  other.  Concomitant  with  these  indications  of 
alliance  with  Sthenurus,  we  find  however,  a  premolar  departing 
from  all  others  of  the  family.  It  seems,  therefore,  reasonable  to 
surmise  that  Palorchestes  was  on  the  whole  a  true  saltigrade  of 
the  macropodal  type,  and  that  the  point  of  divergence  whence  its 
differentiation  commenced,  was  Sthenurus  or  some  form  closely 
allied  to  it.  The  use  to  which  the  determination  of  such  relation- 
ship may  be  put,  is  best  known  to  those  who  have  to  deal  with 
the  disconnected  bones  of  the  numerous  extinct  species  of 
kangaroos ;  without  its  guidance  their  identification,  always 
doubtful  in  some  degree,  becomes  the  most  unsatisfactory  guess- 
work. 


Synonymy  of  Australian  and  Polynesian  Land  and  ^Marine 

mollusca. 
By  J.  Brazier,  C.M.Z.S.,  kc,  &€. 
1.  Patella  aculeata. 
Patella  aculeata,  Beeve,  Conch.  Icon.,  pi.  32,  sp.  90. 
„       squamifera,  Peeve,  Coc.  cit ,  sp.  94. 
,'       aculeata,  Angas,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc,  p.  221,  1867. 
„       squamifera,  Angas,  loc.  cit.,  p.  221,  1867. 
„       aculeata,  Tenison-Woods,  Proc.  Poy.Soc.Tas.,  p.  22,  1877, 
Ilah. — Port  Jackson   near  the  Heads,    and   outside   from    the 
Clarence  Biver  on  the  north,  to  Twofold  Bay  on  south ;  it  is  also 
found  in  Tasmania. 

I  have  had  some  hundreds  of  specimens  of  the  so-called  species 
squamifera,  but  I  can  only  identify  them  with  aculeata.  The  very 
rough  sculptured  variety  is  of  very  common  occurence  at  tho  Old 


BY    J.    BRAZIER,  C.M.ZS.  225 

Maa's  Hat,  on  the  inner  North  Head  of  Port  Jackson.  'Ihe 
squaniately  ribbed  depressed  species  of  Mr.  Reeve  and  Mr.  An^as, 
are  only  the  young  and  depressed  species  of  aculeata  of  still  viivj 
young  specimens.  Many  hundred  species  might  be  invented  from 
examples  selected  from  the  rocks  all  along  the  coast  of  New  South 
Wales 

2.  Natica  Incei. 

Natica  Incei,  Philipi,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc,  p.  233,  1851,  in  Chem. 
Conch.  Cab.,  Kiister's  ed.,  p.  142,  pi.  19,  fig.  5,  1852. 
Natica  Inci,  Reeve,  Conch.  Icon.,  pi.  10,  sp.  37,  1855. 
,,        Baconi.  Reeve,  loc.  cit.,  pi   20,  sp.  89. 
,,        fibula,  Reeve,  loc.  cit.,  pi.  27,  sp.  130. 
„         (N'everita)  baconi,  Angas,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc,  p.  167,  1865. 
,,         {Lunatia)  iyicei,  Angas,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc,  p.  90,  1871. 
Hab. — Outer  Manly  Beach,  Newcastle,  Port  Stephens,  Manning, 
Macleay,    and     Nambuccra    Rivers,   Port    Macquarie,    Bellino-er 
Clarence,  and  Richmond  Rivers,   found  on  all   beaches   near  the 
mouths   of  the    above    rivers    and    ports.      Victoria    and    South 
Australia. 

This  very  fine  and  well-known  species  was  first  described  by 
Philippi  in  the  Proceedings  of  the  Zoological  Society  of  London, 
1851,  and  well  figured  in  1852,  by  Philippi  in  Martini  and 
Chemnitz,  second  edition  by  Kiister ;  then  Reeve  in  1855,  gives 
it  a  new  name  as  Inci,  species  89.  At  species  37,  he  finds 
another  large  specimen  in  the  Cumingian  collection  from  South 
Australia,  and  being  a  little  more  conical  than  the  Incei  of 
Philippi,  found  on  the  east  coast  of  Australia,  Mr.  Reeve,  pen 
in  hand,  describes,  figures  and  names  it  Baconi,  only,  I  believe, 
to  gratify  Mr.  Cuming.  At  species  130,  in  Reeve's  Conch. 
Icon.,  he  also  figures  the  small  form  under  another  name  2i^  fibula, 
this  is  the  most  common  form  found  on  the  beaches  near  the 
Bellinger  River  Heads,  on  sandy  mud,  well  up  from  the  sea  break. 
The  large  specimens  are  found  on  the  sand  flats,  close  to  the  sea 
break.  The  extensive  series  that  I  have  from  all  the  above 
localities,  convinces  me  that  they  are  all  of  one  species. 


226     AUSTRALIAN  AND  POLYNESIAN  LAND  AND  MARINE  MOLLUSCA, 

3.   Cancellaria  UNDULATA. 

Cancellaria  undulata,  Sowerby,  Conch.  Illust.,  No.  15.,  pi.  10, 
fig.  16  only.  Proc.  Zool.  Soc,  p.  136-7,  1848;  Thes.  Conch., 
vol.  ii.,  p.  443-4,  pi.  92,  fig.  12;  pi.  95,  fig.  79.  Reeve  Conch. 
Icon.,  vol.  X.,  pi.  3,  sp.  9,  1856  ;  Crosse,  Journal  de  Conch.,  third 
series,  vol.  ix.,  No.  43,  p.  235,  1861  ;  Angas  Proc.  Zool.,  Soc,  p. 
171,  1865.  Cancellaria  granosa,  Angas.  Proc.  Zool.  Soc,  p.  208, 
1867,  Cancellaria  undulata,  Ten.-Woods,  Proc,  Poy.  Soc.  Tas., 
p.  7,  1877. 

Hah. — Middle  Harbour,  Sow  and  Pigs  Reef,  Port  Jackson, 
Broken  Bay,  Port  Stephens,  Newcastle,  Bellinger  River,  and  all 
beaches  between  that  river  and  the  Clarence  River  Heads  [Brazier). 

There  has  been  a  gi*eat  deal  of  confusion  caused  by  one 
author  and  another  in  reference  to  the  specific  name  and 
true  locality  of  this  species  ;  first  when  it  was  figured  in  the 
Conchological  Illustrations  by  Mr.  Sowerby,  he  had  two  species 
before  him  and  he  named  them  as  one,  under  the  name  of 
granosa  in  the  Proceedings  Zool.  Society,  1848  ;  he  then  points 
out  that  undidata  M^as  originally  included  with  granosa  in  the 
Thesaurus  ;  he  also  distinctly  says  "  we  separate  the  shell 
represented  in  the  Conchological  Illustrations,  figure  16,  as 
undidata,  from  Van  Dieman's  Land."  Reeve,  on  the  authority  of 
Cuming  gives  Tasmania ;  the  Rev.  Tenison- Woods  says  the  species 
is  not  known  to  the  Tasmanian  naturalists.  Mr.  Angas,  in 
Molluscan  Fauna  of  South  Australia,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc,  1865, 
quotes  undidata  from  there,  and  says  that  it  is  very  closely  allied 
to  C.  granosa.  So  far  Mr.  Angas  is  wrong  ;  undulata  is  confined 
to  the  coast  of  New  South  Wales,  or  in  other  terms,  the  east  coast 
of  Australia ;  the  granosa  is  confined  to  the  south-east  and  south 
coast  of  Australia.  Mr.  Angas,  in  the  Proc.  Zoological  Soc,  1867, 
gets  into  still  greater  confusion  when  he  persists  in  calling  the 
C.  undulata,  C.  granosa,  and  quotes  Sowerby 's  Conch.  111.,  figs. 
16  and  17,  in  which  fig.  17  is  really  C.  granosa. 

It  was  only  recently,  when  going  through  the  Cancellariidse  in 
the  Hargraves  Collection  in  the  Museum,  that  I  was  astonished  to 


BY   J.   BRAZIER,  C.M.Z.S.  227 

see  specimens  of  C  undulata  named  grmiosa,  Port  Jackson,  and 
granosa  named  undulata,  South  Australia.  Of  some  hundred  of 
undulata  that  I  have  seen,  and  in  my  late  wife's  collection,  all  are 
named  by  Mr.  Angas  granosa.  We  have  for  many  years  sent 
them  away  to  our  conchological  friends  in  England  and  Europe  as 
granosa,  but  now  find  that  we  have  been  deluded  by  authors.  I 
hope  this  short  note  on  C.  undulata  will  be  of  some  use  in  the 
future,  and  put  an  end  to  this  confusion  of  names.  Reeve  and 
Cuming,  to  make  matters  more  complicated,  have  given  a  locality 
of  their  own  invention  —  Peru,  South  America — for  undulata. 
M.  Crosse,  in  Joui-nal  de  Conch,,  also  follows  with  Reeve  and 
Cuming's  locality. 

4.  TURRITELLA    SOPHI^. 

Turritella  incisa,  Tenison- Woods  (non  Reeve),  Proc.  Linn.  Soc. 
N.S.W.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  262,  1877. 

ITab. — Off  Port  Jackson  Heads,  45  fathoms  (Brazier). 

The  name  incisa  is  preoccupied  by  Reeve  in  Conch.  Icon., 
pi.  xi.,  sp.  65,  1849  ;  also  from  Sydney  in  deep  water,  by  Strange. 
I  therefore  name  the  species  after  my  late  wife,  who  was  a 
devoted  student  of  conchology  for  twenty-three  years. 

5.  TUGALIA    INTERMEDIA. 

Farmophorus  intermedius,  Reeve,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc,  p.  50,  1842, 
Conch.  Syst.,  vol.  ii.,  pi.  139,  figs.  5-6.  Tugalia  intermedia,  A. 
Adams,  Proc.  Zool,  Soc,  p.  88,  1851.  Tugalia  cinerea,  Sowerby, 
(non  Gould),  Thes.  Conch,  vol.  iii.,  p.  221,  Thes.,  pi.  249,  figs. 
15-17.  Tugalia  ossea,  Sowb.  (non  Gould),  loc  cit.,  fig.  18. 
Tugalia  ossea,  Angas  (non  Gould)  Proc.  Zool.  Soc,  p.  219,  1867. 
Tugalia  cinei^ea,  Reeve  (non  Gould),  Conch.  Icon.,  vol.  xvii  ,  pi.  1, 
sp.  5  a  b.  Tugalia  Australis,  Tenison- Woods,  Papers  and  Proc. 
Roy.  Soc  Tas.,  p.  21,  1877. 

Hah. — Philippine  Islands  1  (Cuming,  Reeve),  Port  Jackson,  New 
South  Wales,  from  low  water  to  18  fathoms  {Brazier),  Victoria 
(Bailey),  Tasmania  (Ten.-Woods). 


228     AUSTRALIAN  AND  POLYNESIAN  LAND  AND  MARINE  MOLLUSCA, 

I  have  four  specimens  of  a  Tugalia  from  the  Chatham  Islands 
—  Tugalia  elegans,  Gray,  and  identical  with  our  Port  Jack- 
son T.  intermedia  ;  all  the  specimens  of  Tugalia  parmophoidea, 
of  authors  that  I  have  seen  from  New  Zealand  are  T.  elegans, 
Gray,  they  in  no  way  correspond  with  Tugalia  parinophoidea. 
Quoy  and  Gaimard,  from  New  Holland  (South  Australia),  evidently 
Tugalia  Tasmanica,  Ten. -Woods,  Proc.  Poy.  Soc.  Tasmania,  p.  28, 
1876,  is  only  a  variety  of  Quoy  and  Gaimard's  species,  as  he  says 
his  description  was  drawn  up  from  a  single  example.  Neither  do 
Reeve  or  Sowerby  figure  Gould's  species  of  Tugalia,  see  Otia 
Conchologica,  p.  12-13,  1862,  and  the  Expedition  Shells,  1846. 

6.    COLUMBELLA    TaYLORIANA. 

Columhella  Tayloriana,  Keeve,  Conch.  Icon.,  vol.  xi.,  pi.  35, 
fig.  5,  1859.  Alhomaculata,  Angas,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc,  p.  Ill,  pi. 
13,  fig.  5,  1867. 

Hah. — North-west  Australia '?  (^^eevej,  Port  Jackson  (Angas). 
Broken  Bay,  Port  Stephens,  Port  Macquarie,  Bellinger,  Clarence 
and  Nambuccra  Rivers,  and  all  intermediate  bays  and  beaches 
between  those  rivers  {Brazier). 

This  very  pretty  species  is  very  often  found  under  stones  in 
Port  Jackson  and  among  the  rocks  at  Bondi  and  Coogee  Bays, 
after  passing  north  from  Sydney  the  specimens  become  much 
larger  and  more  numerous  at  the  localities  given  above.  I  very 
much  doubt  the  locality  given  by  Reeve  of  north-west  Australia. 
I  have  not  seen  any  species  like  it  froui  there. 

7.  Helix  (Discus)  Thorpeiana. 

Heli^  (Discus)  ceralis,  Cox  (non  Crosse)  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  p. 
147,  pi.  16,  fig  1;  1873.  Pfeifi'er,  Mon.  Helv.  Viv.  Vol.  VII., 
p.  399.     Nomenclator,  Helv.  Viv.,  p.  179. 

Hah.     Solomon  Islands. 

The    specific  name  of    Crosse     having    priority   for    a    species 
described  in  1868,  from  New  Caledonia,  name  changed  as  above. 
8.  Helix  (Papuina)  Walleri. 

Helix  brenchleyi,  Angas  (non  Brazier)  Proc.  Zool.  Soc,  p.  861, 
pi.  54,  fig.  7,  1878. 


BY   J.  BRAZIER,  C.M.Z.S.  229 

Hobs — Ysabel  Island  ;  Solomon  Group  (Brenchley  and  Brazier.) 

Mj  specific  name  of  Branchleyi  having  priority  for  a  species 

described  in  the  Proc.  Linn.  Soc.  of  N.S.W.,  Yol.  1,  1875-6.     See 

Pfeiffer,  Mon.    Helv.    Viv.,  Yol.   YIIL,    p.   582,    1877.      Name 

changed  as  above. 

At  present  I  am  preparing  a  Catalogue  of  the  whole  of  the  Land 
Mollusca  known  from  the  Solomon  Islands,  New  Ireland,  New 
Britain,  New  Hanover,  Duke  of  York  and  Admiralty  Islands.  A 
very  large  number  of  species  said  to  have  been  brought  from  the 
Admiralty  Islands,  on  the  authority  of  Mr.  H.  Gumming,  never  did 
exist  on  them,  but  on  the  Solomons,  New  Britain  and  New 
Ireland. 

9.    LUCINA    DENTATA. 

Tellina  dentata  Wood.  General  Conch,  p.  195,  pi.  46,  f.  7,  1817. 
„  „       Dillwyns,  Desc.  Cat.,  Yol.  1,  p.  103,  1817. 

,,        divaricata  (part)  Chem.  Conch.  Cab.,  YI.  134,  pL  13,  fig. 
129,  1782. 
Lucina  divaricata,   Lam.   (non   Linn.)  Anim.  sans  Yert.  Yol.  Y, 
p.  541.  1818.  Desh.  2nd  ed.  Yol.  YL,  p.  226, 
1835. 
Tellina  dentata,  Mawe's  Linnean  System  of  Conchology,  p.  27 

1823. 
Lucina   Chemnitzii,  Phil.  Zeit.  Spal.  p.  157,  1848. 

„         arnata,  Reeve,  Conch.  Icon.  Yol.  YL,  sp.  48,  1850. 

,,         ehurna^  Beeve,  Conch.  Icon.  Yol.  VI.,  sp.  49,  1850. 

,.         strigilla,  Stimpson,  Shells,  N.  E.,  17,  1851. 

„         Americana,  C.B.  Ad.  Contrib.  Conch,   243,  1852. 

„         pilula,  C.B.  Ad.  Contribu.  Conch,  246,  1852. 

„         Lamarckii,  Dunker,    Weinkauff,    Journ.    Conch,  X,  p. 

p.  315,  1862. 
„         quadrisulcata,   Orb.   Yoy.    Amer.    Merin.,    584,    Moll. 
Cuba  IL,  294,  394,  pi.  27,  f.  34,  36.     Shells  of 
South  America,  Brit.  Mus.  Cat.  p.  72,  1854. 
„         Sechellensis,  Orb,  Yoy.  Am.  Merid,  384. 
„         ornatissima,  Orb.  Yoy.  Am.  Merid.,  384. 
Q 


230     AUSTRALIAN  AND  POLYNESIAN  LAND  AND  MARINE  MOLLUSCA, 

Lucma  serrata,   Orb.  Yoj.   Am.    Merid.,  384,    Moll.  Cuba.   II., 

295,  pi.  27,  f.  37,  39,   1853.     Brit.   Mus.  Cat., 

p.  41,  No.  496,  1854. 
„         divaricata,  Gray  (non  Linn.)  DiefFenbacb's  Travels  in 

New  Zealand,  Yol.  IL,  p.  256,  1843. 
,,  Cumingi,  Ad.  and  Ang.  Proc.  Zool,  Soc,  p.  446,  pi.  37, 

f.    20,   1863.     Angas,  P.Z.S.   p.   651,  1865,  p. 

192,  1877. 
„  ornata,  Angas,  P.Z.S.,  p.  192,  1877. 

„         divaricata,  Chenu.  (non  Linn.)  Manuel  de  Conch,  tome 

IL,  p.  120,  fig.  572,  1862. 
„         ornata,  H.  Y.  A.  Adams,    Genera   Recent  Moll.  Yol. 

II.,  p.  467. 
„         ehurna,  Op.  Sit.  Genera  Recent   Moll.   Yol.   II. ,  1857, 
,,         divaricata,  (Reeve  (non  Linn.)   Conch  Icon.  Yol.  YL, 

pi.  8,  species  47,  1850. 
„  dentata,  Jay's  Catalogue,  p.  30,  No.  669,  1850 

„         dentata,  Wood  Index,  Test.   Hanley's  Edit.  p.  29,  pi.  4, 

fig.  88,  1856. 
„         dentata,  Catlow  and  Reeve.    Nomenclator,  p.  26,  No.  7, 

1845. 
„         dentata,  Hanley.  Catal.  Rec.  Biv.  Shells,  p.  16,  1842. 
„         divaricata,  Hutton  (non  Linn.)  Journ.   de   Conch,  Yol. 

26,  p.  51,  1878. 
„  quadrisidcata,  Pf.  in  Martini  and  Chem.   Conch.   Cab. 

Kiister's  Ed.  p   268,  pi.  42,  fig.  1,  1869. 
„         dentata,  Tryon  Proc.  Acad.  Nat  Sc.  Philad,  p.  85,  1872. 
,,  dentata,  Tryon  Jr.   American   Marine    Conchology,  p. 

169,  pi.  32,  fig.  427,  1873. 
„  divaricata,  Hutton  (as  of  Lam.)  Manuel  of  New  Zealand, 

MoUusca,  1873,  1880. 
„         divaricata,  Tenison    Woods    (non    Linn),    Papers   and 

Proc.  Roy.  Soc.  Tas.  p.  40,  1877. 
„  dentata,  Paetel,  Catalogue,  p.  143,  1873. 
„  (Bivaricella)  Sp.   Yon   Marten's   Critical  List  of   New 

Zealand,  Molluska,  p.  46,  1873. 


BY   J.  BRAZIER,  C.M.Z.S.  231 

Ludna  quadrisulcata,  Dunker,  Index,  Moll.  Maris.  Japonica, 
p.  216,1882. 

Rab. — New  England  to  Brazil,  West  and  South  America,  East 
Coast  of  Asia,  Seychelles,  Island  of  Bourbon  (Try on),  Wangaroia 
Harbour,  New  Zealand,  Tasmania,  South  Australia,  Victoria ; 
Twofold  Bay,  Jervis  Bay,  Botany  Bay,  Port  Stephens,  Port 
Jackson,  Port  Macquarie,  New  South  Wales ;  Moreton  Bay, 
Port  Curtis,  Port  Denison,  Palm  Island,  North  east  Coast  of 
Australia ;  Cape  York,  North  Australia,  7  and  8  fathoms 
(Chevert  Expedition.  (Brazier.)  Also,  Port  Darwin  and  Nicol 
Bay,  North  and  North-west  Australia  (Brazier.) 

This  species  has  a  very  wide  range  over  the  earth's  surface,  but 
it  does  not  differ  in  sculpture,  although  a  number  of  authorities 
have   constantly  confused  the  little  Tellina  (^Lucina)    divaricata, 
Linneus  from  the  Mediterranean  Sea,  with  the  Lacina  divaricata. 
Lamarck  from  the  West  Indies,  which  is  the  dentata  of  Wood. 
Deshayes  in  the  second  edition  of  Lamark's  Anim.  sans  Yert.  1835, 
does  not   even  mention  dentata.     Jay  in   his   Catalogue   is  also 
confused  ;  it  gives  divaricata^  Lam.  from  the  Mediterranean  then 
makes  dentata.   Wood,  a  variety  from  St.  Jago  de  Cuba,  West 
Indies.     There  is  not  the  least  doubt  that  Jay  had  all  West  Indian 
specimens  before  him,  the  small  size  of  the  Linnean  divaricata  of 
the  English  Coast,  and  the  Mediterranean  cannot  in  any  way  get 
confused  with  the  West  Indian,  New  Zealand,  and   Australian 
species,  so  well  known  as  dentata,  for  the  past  60  years.     Professor 
C.  B.  Adams  in  his  Contributions  to  Conchology,  Yol.  1,  p,  243, 
1852,  re-naoies  the  species  from  West  Indian  examples  under  the 
name  of  Lucina  Americana,  then  he  goes  on  to  say,   "  We  wish  to 
call  the  attention  of  geologists  and  others,  who  have  believed  in  the 
great   geological  antiquity  and  the  wide  geographical  distribution 
of  the  so-called  L.  divaricata j  to  the  just  remark  of  Phillippi  (Zeit. 
f.  Mai.   1848,  p.   151.)"       '^Nomine  L.  divaricatse  plures  species 
confusse,  omnes  divaricatim  striatse,"    "  When  the  types  have  been 
properly  distinguished,  we  believe  they  will  be  found  to  have  the 
ordinary  restriction  both  in  time  and  area.     The  Linnaean  name 
should  be  reserved  for  the   Mediterranean  species,  since  Linnseus 
assigns  his  shell  to  a  Mediterrrnean  habitat." 


232     AUSTRALIAN  AND  POLYNESIAN  LAND  AND  MARINE  MOLLUSCA, 

Professor  Yon  Marten's  in  his  Critical  List  of  New  Zealand 
Mollusca,  p.  46,  1873,  distinctly  says  that  divaricata  is  a  collective 
name  for  several  species  ;  the  true  divaricata  of  Linne  is  a  species  of 
the  Mediterranean  Sea.  I  now  quote  Mr.  Sylvanus  Hanley  from  his 
Ipsa  Linnsei  Conchy lia,  p.  44, 1 855.  "  The  locality  being  here  authen- 
ticated by  the  name  of  the  authority  for  it,  becomes  of  importance. 
The  only  Mediterranean  species  that  will  at  all  agree  with  the 
description  in  the  "  System"  is  the  Lucina,  which,  originally 
termed  commutata  by  Phillippi,  (Moll.  Sicl.  Vol.  1,  pi.  3,  f.  16), 
was  afterwards  recognised  by  him  for  the  true  Linnean  divaricata. 
That  illustrious  naturalist  justly  remarks,  that  "  magnitudine 
pisigibba-strise  tenuissimae"  and  "  Habitat  in  M.  Mediterraneo, 
Logie,''^  clearly  point  to  the  little  and  delicately  sculptured  Euro- 
pean shell,  rather  than  to  the  coarser,  larger,  and  now  commoner 
West  Indian  species,  which  usurps  the  name  in  almost  every 
collection."  "  As  corroborative  of  these  convincing  arguments  (not 
that  our  author  would  have  scrupled  to  unite  the  two  species),  it 
may  be  mentioned  that  the  figures  of  the  larger  species  in  the 
works  of  Bonanni,  Lister,  and  Petiver,  books  habitually  consulted 
by  LinnasuS;  were  passed  over  in  silence  by  him." 

Pfeiffer  in  Martini  and  Chemnitz  Conch  Cab.,  second  edition  by 
Kiister,  p.  268,  1869,  does  not  even  mention  Wood's  name  dentata, 
but  makes  use  of  a  very  recent  specific  name  quadrisulcata,  Orb. 
Lucina  dentata,  Wood  must  stand  as  a  genuine  species,  its  legion 
of  synonyms  are  a  disgrace  to  science,  and  should  never  have  been 
created,  if  authors  had  paid  a  little  more  attention  to  the  strict 
rules  of  priority. 

The  Rev.  J.  E.  Tenison- Woods,  in  his  Census  of  Tasmanian 
Marine  Shells,  Proceedings  Poyal  Society  Tasmania,  p.  30,  1877, 
informs  us  that  Lucina  divaricata,  Linn,  was  first  found  in  the 
Mediterranean,  and  until  lately,  when  found  elsewhere,  was 
thought  to  be  another  species.  The  opinion  that  Mr.  Woods 
quotes,  is  not  the  opinion  of  Von  Martens  but  his  own.  The  shell 
quoted  by  Mr.  Woods  from  Tasmania,  is  the  Lucina  divaricata 
Lam.,  and  to  please  the  egotism  of  Mr.  Cuming,  Messrs.  Adams 


BY   J.   BRAZIER,  C.M.Z.S.  233 

and  Angas  re-named  it  Liiclna,  Gwiilngll,  from  South  Australian 
examples.  Paetel  i'l  his  Catalogue,  p.  143,  1873,  gives  it  Lucina 
chntata,  New  Zealand. 

I  here  quote  from  the  Proceedings  of  the  Academy  of  Natural 
Sciences  of  Philadelphia,  p.  85,  1872,  in  Mr.  George  W.  Tryon, 
Jr.'s  own  words  :  "  It  is  very  curious  to  observe  that  most  of  the 
above  distinguished  authors  finding  that  the  West  Indian  divaricata 
of  Lamarck,  Gmelin,  and  Chemnitz  is  distinct  from  the  European 
divaricata  of  Linn.,  have  each  immediately  re-christened  the 
former,  without  troubling  themselves  to  ascertain  whether  any  one 
else  had  previously  made  the  same  discovery.  To  this  carelessness, 
and  to  the  insane  desire  to  describe  species,  are  to  be  ascribed  the 
terrors  of  the  science  to  the  novitiate,  who  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten 
is  frightened  at  the  very  threshold  by  an  hetergeneous  mass  of  a 
hundred  thousand  names,  representing  probably,  not  more  than 
one-fifth  that  number  of  species.  Long  and  familarly  known  to 
Conchologists  as  this  species  is,  they  have  permitted  nearly  all  of 
the  above  synonyms  to  stand  as  distinct  species.  The  geographical 
range  is  great,  but  well  established  by  numerous  authorities." 

10.    MODIOLARIA    BARBATA. 

Lithodomus  harhatus,  Reeve,  Conch.  Icon.,  vol.  10,  plate  5,  sp. 
27,  1858. 

Modiolaria  harhata,  Angas,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc,  p.  11,  pi.  44,  fig. 
12,  1867. 

Crenella  harhata^  Angas,  P.Z.S.,  p.  871,  1878. 

ISab. — Sydney,  in  mud  at  the  depth  of  six  fathoms  {Strange). 
Botany  Bay,  New  South  Wales,  Port  Jackson,  from  2  feet  to  12, 
and  18  fathoms.  Port  Stephens,  New  South  Wales,  8-10  fathoms 
{Brazier).     St.  Vincent's  Gulf,  South  Australia  (Professor  Tate), 

This  pretty  little  Modiolaria,  is  very  common  in  some  parts  of 
Port  Jackson,  especially  under  George's  Head  in  1 3  fathoms,  found 
attached  to  a  sponge,  and  in  the  crevices  of  masses  of  large  Ascidians, 
and  at  half  tide,  under  the  large  roots  of  Fiicus  at  Shark  Island, 
Yaucluse,  and  Watson's  Bay,  also  outside  Sydney  Heads,  at  Bondi 
and  Coogee  Bay  on  the  south.       I  see  no  difference  in  the  species 


234    AUSTRALIAN  AND  POLYNESIAN  LAND  AND  MARINE  MOLLUSCA, 

described  by  Keeve  in  1858,  as  Lithodoinus  barhatus,  and  Modio- 
laria  harhata,  described  by  Angas  in  1867. 
11.  Tapes  polita. 
Taioes  polita,  Sowerby,  Thes.  Concb.  vol.  ii.,  p.  682,  pi.  145,  fig. 

15,  16,  1852.  Deshayes  in  Cat,  Conch,  of  Biv.  Shells  in  Brit. 
Mus.,  p.  172,  No.  37,  1853.  Ta^jes  infiata,  Desh.  Proc.  Zool.  Soc, 
p.  8,  pi.  19,  fig  3  ;  Conch.  Brit.  Mus.,  p.  162,  No.  6. 

Ta2)es  polita,  H.  and  A.  Ad.  Rec.  Moll.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  435,  1857. 
„       (Fidlastra)  inflata,  H.  and  A.  Ad.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  436. 
„       {Textrix)  polita,   Eomer,   Malk.   Blat.,  p.   29,  No.    13, 
1864. 

Tajjes  polita  (Textrix)  infiata,  Romer,  Malk.  Blat.,  p.  29,  No. 

16,  1864. 

Venus  infiata,  Pfeiflfer  in  Conch.  Cab.,  Kiister  ed.  p.  210,  p.  34. 
fig.  4,  1869. 

Hah. — Port  Jackson  and  Port  Stephens,  New  South  Wales, 
8-10  fathom  mud  (Brazier.) 

When  Mr.  Sowerby  described  and  figured  this  species  in  the 
Thesaurus  Conchyliarum,  there  was  only  one  specimen  known, 
found  by  the  late  Mr.  Strange,  in  mud  at  a  depth  of  six  fathoms 
at  Sydney.  Mr.  Cuming  appears  to  have  received  another  so-called 
species  from  Ceylon,  but  I  very  much  doubt  the  specimen  or 
specimens  being  finer  and  larger  than  polita.  Mr.  Deshayes 
describes  it  under  the  name  of  Tapes  infiata,  without  ever  compar- 
ing Sowerby' s  species  with  it ;  in  Cuming's  collection  I  have 
hundreds  of  specimens  of  polita,  Sowerby,  and  infiata,  Desh.  in 
all  stages  of  growth,  that  is  half  an  inch,  one  inch,  one  inch 
and  a-half,  two  inches,  and  three  inches  long,  and  broad  in 
proportion  near  the  ventral  margin,  there  are  two  or  three  very 
slight  riblets,  these  riblets  are  seen  in  nearly  all  specimen  of 
jyolita,  when  the  animal  enlarges  the  valves,  the  riblets  become 
ribs  and  get  broader ;  of  the  infiata  form,  when  fresh,  the  inside 
under  the  umbones  is  always  orange,  from  the  very  youngest 
specimens  of  jyolita  up  to  the  psuedo  species  called  infiata. 

Pfeiffer  in  Martini  andChem.  Conch.  Cab.,  Kiister  edition,  1869, 
only  figures  Deshayes  F.  infiata. 


BY   J.   BRAZIER,  C.M.Z.S.  235 


On  some  Mesozoic  Fossils  from  Central  Australia. 

By  the  Rev.  J.   E.  Tenison- Woods,  F.G.S.,  &c. 

With  Two  Plates. 

The  fossils  described  and  figured  in  this  paper  were  obtained  by 

Mr.  Gilliatt,  one  of  the  surveyors   in  the   Mining  Department. 

They  were  found  in  sinking  a  well  on  Mount  Stewart  Run,  which 

is  situated  on  the  Grey  Ranges.      The  fossiliferous  bed  was  struck 

at  a  depth  of  90  feet.     The  remains  comprise  many  specimens  of 

Avicula,    some   Gryphece,    a    Trigonia.    Belemnite,    Pecten,   Ostrea, 

Pinna,  Cyiyrina,  Mytilus,  and  many  broken  fragments.      The  only 

species  which  can  be  determined,  are  of  Avicula,  Pecten,  Trigonia 

Lnd  Belemnites,  the  rest  being  too  imperfect. 

The  sand  is  of  a  greyish  green  color,  with  numerous  blackish 
grains.  In  places  it  is  finely  levigated,  so  as  to  preserve  impressions 
of  the  faintest  markings  on  the  shells.  Some  portions  are  a  coarse 
grey  green  sand,  easily  powdered.  Under  the  microscope,  this 
sand  is  seen  to  be  composed  of  angular  fragments  of  crystals,  with 
small  portions  of  shelly  matter.  There  were  very  few  rounded  grains 
a,nd  none  polished.  When  treated  with  hydrochloric  acid,  there 
ivas  only  a  slight  efi'ervescence,  confined  I  suppose  to  the  fragments 
of  shelly  matter.  I  could  not  dectect  any  Foraminifera.  Some  of 
".he  fragments  of  crystals  were  dark  black  or  green,  some  opaque 
vhite,  and  some  transparent.  There  were  also  a  few  brown  opaque 
grains.  The  transparent  grains  seen  in  polarized  light,  all  showed 
Dands  of  color  and  some  twin  crystals  and  triclinic  felspar.  The 
"arge  green  crystals  were  dark  and  opaque  ;  some  of  the  smaller 
•lark  grains  had  almost  a  metallic  lustre.  From  the  absence  of 
iny  glassy  particles,  as  well  as  there  being  so  little  marks  of  ferric 
)xides,  we  may  conclude  that  this  sand  was  derived  from  the 
iveathering  of  some  of  the  ancient  granite  rocks,  and  not  from 
volcanic  or  trap  rocks.  There  is  a  general  external  resemblance  in 
the  rock  to  the  greensands  of  Britain  and  France,  but  the 
resemblance  is  merely  external.    There  is  no  trace  of  the  glanconitic 


236       ON    SOME    MESOZOIC    FOSSILS    FROM    CENTRAL    AUSTRALIA, 

materials,  to  which  the  color  of  so  many  of  the  European  green 
sands  is  due.  It  is  owing  in  that  case,  to  a  peculiar  green  deposit 
in  the  chambers  and  cells  of  Foraminifera,  while  in  the  Australian 
rocks,  there  are  no  Foraminifera  and  very  little  lime.  The  green 
color  is  due  to  small  fragments  of  a  material  which  I  believe  to  be 
opaque  hornblende.  Thei'e  is  some  admixture  of  iron  pyrites,  and 
a  good  deal  of  brown  coal  and  fragments  of  coniferous  wood  mixed 
with  fossil  remains,  but  there  are  no  notes  to  show  whether  they 
occurred  in  distinct  bands  or  were  indiscriminately  mingled  with 
the  rest. 

The  fossils  contained  in  this  collection,  comprise :  One  fine 
specimen  of  the  guard  of  a  Belemnite,  which  I  regard  as  identical 
with  Belemnites  australis,  Moore.'*'  Some  valves  too  imperfect  for 
satisfactory  identification,  but  not  unlike  Cucullcea  inflata.  Moore 
(loc.  cit.  p.  250).  Also  fragments  of  a  large  Gyprina.  (0.  expa7isa 
Etheridge?  Jour.  Geol.  Soc.  1872,  p.  338),  a  Mya,  TeUma,Sind 
finally  numerous  large  and  well-preserved  specimens  of  Avicula 
wdth  characters  which  belong  to  many  of  the  species  described  by 
Moore,  besides  a  single  valve  of  a  species  of  Trigonia  w^hich  is 
certainly  undescribed.  I  shall  proceed  to  consider  these  fossils  in 
detail. 

Belemnites  australis,  Moore  (loc.  cit.  Plate  XVI.  figs.  1,  2,  3,  4,  5.) 
Guard  hastate,  with  a  rather  long,  very  slightly  undulating  outline, 
ventral  face  flattened  but  without  a  trace  of  a  ventral  groove  j  two 
lateral  grooves  sharply  cut  and  approximating  to  the  ventral  face 
in  the  alveolar  region,  thence  bending  towards  the  dorsal  aspect 
with  a  scarcely  perceptible  curve  and  continued  in  a  fine  stria  on 
the  ventral  margin.  The  specimen  is  broken  round  the  alveolar 
cavity,  but  the  extreme  length  of  what  remains  is  145  millim. 
width  at  the  alveolar  end  20,  greatest  width  at  the  end  of  the 
lateral  groove,  and  about  the  centre  of  the  fossil  22,  ventro-dorsal 
width  greatest  at  the  broken  end,  and  gradually  tapering  thence  to 
the  point. 

*  Quart.  Jour,  Geol.  Soc.  Lon.  1870,  p.  261. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.   E.   TENISON- WOODS,  F.G.S.,   F.L.S.  237 

In  the  foregoing  diagnosis  it  will  be  seen  that  our  specimen 
differs  from  B.  australis  in  its  greater  length,  in  tapering  to  a  point, 
and  the  slightly  different  curvature  of  the  lateral  groove.  It 
resembles  it  in  all  other  particulars,  especially  in  the  depression  l)y 
lateral  expansion  of  the  post  alveolar  region,  in  the  lateral  grooves 
being  so  sharply  cut  in  the  alveolar  and  post-alveolar  region  and 
in  the  absence  of  the  ventral  groove. 

I  do  not  therefore  think  it  advisable  to  erect  it  into  a  new 
species,  but  should  it  prove  new  I  propose  for  it  the  name  of 
B.  oxys.     (PI.  XIII.,  tigs.  1,  2  and  3.) 

This  species  belongs  evidently  to  the  division  Hastati  of  M. 
d'Orbigny  as  Mr.  Moore  has  pointed  out  in  the  case  of  the  specimen 
from  WoUumbilla.  In  this  group  the  guard  is  elongated  and 
provided  with  lateral  grooves  for  a  portion  of  the  length,  but 
always  with  a  long  ventral  groove,  which  is  wanting  in  the  Aus- 
tralian species.  The  typical  species  of  the  group  is  B.  hastatus, 
Blainville,  which  is  found  in  all  the  middle  Oolitic  beds  from  the 
Kellaways  rock  to  Upper  Oxfordian.  Other  members  of  the  same 
group  have  been  found  in  the  Oolites  of  France,  England,  Russia, 
and  the  province  of  Cutch  in  India.  Other  forms  of  the  Hastati 
are  found  in  the  Lower  Cretaceous,  so  that  the  group  is  consi- 
dered to  belong  to  the  middle  and  upper  mesozoic  rocks. 

NEW  SPECIES. 

Trigonia  niesembria,  sp.  nov.  PI.  xii.,  figs.  1,  2  and  3.  T.  t.  ohlongo- 
ovali,  postice  producta,  tumida,  crassa,  umhoiiihus  'paullum  ante- 
riorihus,  proinimdis,  haud  curvatis  ;  margine  siq^eriore  concavo, 
elongato,  inargine  posteriore  curvato,  sed postice  truncato;  Antice 
tumide  producta,  rotundata ;  s-ulco  posteriore  lato,  conspicuo, 
minime  profundo,  mo,rginihus  valde  divergentihus  a  natihus  ad 
'iiiarginem ;  costis  transversalibios,  haud  p)rominulis,  costidis 
aliquando  i?itercalantibus  antice  parxmi  undulosis  sidco  posteriore 
evanescentihus  ;  carina  Icevi,  sulcis  tribus  latiioscidis  munita, 
himda,  loaga  Icevi  ovata,  2  sulcis  longis  latis,  sculpta,  basin 
versus  striata  ;  dentibus  cardinalibus  crassis  consp)icuis  marginibus 
superioribus  bi-sidcatis,  sulcis  lateralibus  13,  crebris,  concinnis. 


238      ON    SOME    MESOZOIC    FOSSILS    FROM    CENTRAL    AUSTRALIA, 

Shell  ovately  oblong,  produced  posteriorly,  thick,  tumid,  very- 
convex,  umbones  somewhat  anterior,  not  recurved,  superior  border 
moderately  concave,  rather  elongate,  posterior  border  curved, 
slightly  truncate  at  the  sij^honal  margin  ;  anterior  border  tumidly 
produced  and  rounded,  posterior  groove  wide,  conspicuous,  shallow, 
widening  rapidly  from  the  umbones  to  the  margin,  costa  irregular, 
not  prominent,  some  smaller  ones  occasionally  intercalated,  all 
passing  horizontally  across  the  valve,  slightly  undulating  ante- 
riorly, disappearing  on  the  posterior  groove  ;  siphonal  ridge 
smooth,  with  three  narrow  rounded  ridges,  three  rather  wide, 
shallow,  grooves  between,  which  become  faint  as  they  widen 
out  towards  the  margin,  escutcheon  long,  ovate,  with  a  flat  groove 
on  each  side,  striae  on  the  lower  part,  the  rest  smooth,  margins 
raised ;  hinge  teeth  thick,  large,  prominent,  with  two  grooves  on 
the  upper  edge  and  about  13  close,  neat,  parallel,  lateral  grooves. 
The  shell  is  of  considerable  thickness  and  is  separated  into  two 
layers  the  outer  of  which  is  the  thicker. 

This  fossil  manifestly  belongs  to  that  section  of  the  large  genus 
Trigonia,  which  is  classed  as  Glahrce  or  smooth.  The  section  is 
characterised  by  sub-quadrangular  or  elongately  ovate  shells 
moderately  compressed,  area  not  margined  or  indicated  by  a 
distinct  groove,  sides  ornamented  with  smooth  concentric  ribs, 
sometimes  extending  over  the  area,  or  becoming  quite  obsolete 
before  reaching  it.     The  type  is  T.  longa,  Agassiz. 

The  group  of  GlahrcB  is  decidedly  Cretaceous,  most  of  the  species 
belong  to  that  period,  though  one  or  two  species  rarely  extend  into 
the  Jura. 

The  above  fossil  comes  nearest  in  its  form  to  T.  excentrica, 
Park,  and  T.  duncomhensis,  Lycett,  both  (J-reensand  species  or 
Lower  Cretaceous  in  Britain.  There  is  a  single  elongated  species 
of  the  Glahrce  division,  from  the  Cretaceous  rocks  of  America.  It 
comes  from  Columbia.  Trigonia  semiculta,  StoL,  of  the  Cretaceous 
rocks  of  Pondicherry,  is  a  short  globose  species,  with  the  trans- 
verse costa  interrupted  about  the  middle  of  the  shell  by  the  usual 
smooth  anti-carinal  space,  but  it  is  not  grooved  as  in  the  present 
species,  is  short,  has  not  the  posterior  carina,  and  has  the  costa 
much  more  regular. 


BY    THE   REV.  J.  E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  239 

It  maj  be  as  well  here  to  review  all  the  described  Australian 
mesozoic  species  of  Trigonia.  They  are  T.  costata,  Clarke,  which 
is  the  same  as  T.  morei,  Lycett,  T.  lineata,  Moore,  T.  nasiUa, 
Etheridge. 

The  name  T.  costata,  was  applied  by  the  Rev.  W.  B.  Clarke, 
F.R.S.^  to  a  species  from  Western  Australia  (Grreenough  River), 
under  the  belief  that  it  was  Trigonia  costata  of  Parkinson.*  In 
Moore's  paper  already  referred  to,  the  differences  between  the 
species  are  pointed  out  by  the  late  Mr.  Lycett,  and  the  Australian 
one,  named  T.  moorei.  It  is  one  of  the  group  called  Costatce,  and 
therefore  entirely  different  from  the  new  fossil  described  here. 

Trigonia  lineata,  Moore  (loc.  cit.  p.  255)  was  described  from  two 
imperfect  specimens,  one  a  cast  showing  the  teeth,  and  the  other 
much  abraded.  It  is  a  gibbous  form,  as  broad  as  long,  and  there- 
fore quite  distinct  from  our  species.  Professor  McCoy  placed  it 
with  the  Permian  and  Rhsetic  genus  Myophoria,  but  Mr.  Moore 
considered  that  the  absence  of  the  oblique  keel  and  the  acute 
posterior  side,  precluded  such  a  reference 

Trigonia  nasuta,  Etheridge  (Jour.  Geol.  Soc.  Lond.  1872,  p.  339, 
pi.  xix.,  figs.  2,  2a).  This  fossil  was  described  from  a  cast  only, 
but  which  Mr.  Etheridge  says,  belongs  to  a  type  unknown  in 
Jurassic  rocks.  It  is  much  higher  and  deeper  than  our  fossil,  and 
was  referred  to  the  group  Scabrce  nearest  to  T.  sanctce  crucis, 
Pictet  and  Camp.,  but  a  discovery  of  the  external  surface,  might 
show  it  to  be  much  nearer  to  the  present  species. 

Pecten  psila,  sp.  nov.  P.  t.  2)arva,  trigo7iali-orbiculari,  cequivalva, 
valde  depressa,  vix  convexiuscula,  omnino  kevi,  vel  marginem  versus 
tenuissime  concentrice  striata,  aurihus  incequalihus,  radiatim  costatis, 
antice  elongata  triangulala  producta,  posteriore  flahelliformi. 

Shell  small,  suborbicular,  equivalve,  depressed,  hardly  convex, 
entirely  smooth,  and  without  ornament  of  any  kind,  except  one  or 
two  very  faint  lines  of  growth  near  the  exterior  margin  ;  ears 

*  Organic  Remains,  vol.  3,  pi.  12,  fig.  4 ;  Paleontograph  Soc.  Monograph, 
Lycett  and  Moore,  Mollusca  of  the  Great  Oolite,  pi.  5,  fig  23  ;  Lycett. 
Brit.  Foss.  Trigonia,  vol.  33,  p.  227,  a  wood  cut  of  T.  Moorei. 


240       ON    SOME    MESOZOIC    FOSSILS    FROM    CENTRAL    AUSTRALIA, 

unequal,  radiately  ribbed,  tlie  anterior  one  in  the  form  of  an 
elongated  triangle,  produced  along  the  dorsal  margin  for  half  the 
length  of  the  shell,  posterior  smaller,  fan-shaped. 

This  small,  smooth,  depressed  Perten,  belongs  to  a  type  which  is 
common  in  the  mesozoic  rocks,  the  middle  mesozoic  especially. 
In  a  genus  so  abundantly  represented  in  species  during  almost  every 
geological  period  resemblances  can  be  found  on  every  side.  But  it 
is  particularly  like  P.  socialis,  Moore,  which  is  a  sub-orbicular  shell 
moderately  convex,  umbones  convex  and  pointed,  auricles  unequal, 
anterior  one  much  the  largest.  Mr.  Moore  says  that  the  external 
ornamentation  of  the  shell  is  not  well  preserved,  but  it  appears  to 
have  been  nearly  smooth,  without  visible  concentric  striae  but  with 
depressed  radiating  ribs.  In  general  form  it  is  not  unlike 
P.  rigidus.  *  It  is  one  of  the  most  abundant  shells  in  the  boulders 
from  Wolluml)illa,  many  specimens  of  various  ages  appearing  on 
their  fractured  surfaces. 

The  fossil  I  have  described  might  Avell  be  a  young  state  of  Mr. 
Moore's  fossil.  It  is  much  smaller,  the  average  dimension  from 
hinge  to  margin  is  about  6  millimeters  with  a  tranverse  diameter 
of  5 ,  It  is  found  abundantly  scattered  over  some  fragments  of  dark, 
olive  greenish  marl,  looking  not  unlike  Nummulites.  As  I  have 
only  seen  the  figures  and  descriptions  of  P.  socialis,  and  as  the 
details  are  very  imperfect,  I  think  it  better  not  to  make  too  hasty 
an  identification  but  point  out  the  resemblance  for  future  enquiry. 

Avicula  harklyi,  Moore,  vel  rejlecta,  Moore  var.  gilliatti,  pi.  xii., 
figs.  4,  5  and  6.  The  great  mass  of  the  fossils  in  this  collection  is  a 
large  species  of  Avicula  of  which  a  figure  is  given.  It  possesses  all 
the  characters  of  both  the  fossils  above-named  in  different  specimens 
and  I  think  that  the  specific  distinctions  between  the  two  will  be 
found  on  examination  to  disappear.  Any  one  who  examines  the 
series  figured  by  Mr.  Moore  from  Wollumbilla  including  eight 
species,  will  be  inclined  to  refer  them  all  to  one,  differing  from  each 
other  merely  in  size  and  mode  of  growth.  The  posterior  wing 
auricle  is  lengthened  and  undulating  in  the  large  and  old  specimens 

*  A  fossil  species  of  the  Great  Oolite,  Wiltshire.  See  Sowerby's  Mineral 
Conchology,  plate  205,  fig.  8. 


BY    THE    REV.  J.   E.  TENISON-WOODS,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.  241 

(those  of  about  90  millimeters  long),  and  the  produced  posterior 
wing  makes  the  transverse  and  longitudinal  diameters  quite  equal. 
A.  harklyi,  has  been  recognized  by  Prof.  Tate,  from  Cape  Creek, 
and  other  fossils  described  by  Moore  as  associated  with  that  fossil 
from  Primrose  Springs  and  Lake  Eyre,  in  Central  Australia.  (See 
Trans.  Roy.  Soc.  S.  Australia,  Vol.  vi.,  p.  144.)  They  were 
scattered  on  the  surface  much  in  the  way  the  fossils  are  at 
Wollumbilla. 

SUMMARY. 

From  the  occurrence  of  some  cretaceous  forms  in  this  deposit,  I 
am  inclined  to  think  that  it  belongs  to  the  so-called  great  Creta- 
ceous formations  of  Central  Australia,  and  North-eastern  Australia. 
There  is  certainly  also  a  mixture  of  Jurassic  types,  but  their  evidence 
is  not  so  marked,  and  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  there  has  been 
a  mixture  of  fossils  from  different  localities  in  Mr,  Moore's  collec- 
tion. There  are  true  Oolitic  beds  near  the  Peak  Downs,  and 
amongst  these  I  have  recognized  some  of  Moore's  species,  but  never 
the  Aviculse,  and  Belemnite  here  referred  to.  It  is  possible,  how- 
ever, that  our  Australian  Cretaceous  rocks  may  be  very  low  in  the 
series,  and  contain  moreover  as  in  the  Australian  strata  a  fusion  of 
those  well-marked  specific  boundaries  which  paleontologists  are 
accustomed  to  elsewhere.  In  any  case  I  am  rather  disposed  to 
regard  the  Central  Australian  beds  about  Lake  Eyre,  the  Peake 
and  Primrose  Springs  as  cretaceous.  I  propose  to  examine  the 
Wollumbilla  beds,  carefully  at  my  earliest  leisure  and  then  will 
try  for  its  position  more  certainly. 

Explanation  of  Plates, 
Plate  XII. 
Fig.   1 . — Trigonia  mesemhria,  inner  surface  of  valve. 
„     2. — Upper  surface  showing  concentric  costa. 
,,     3. — Anterior  end  with  tooth. 
„     4. — Avicula  harklyi,  upper  valve. 
„     5. — Ditto  ditto,  lower  valve  of  same  specimen. 
„     6. — Another  upper  valve  with   better  defined  ribs. 
All  figures  reduced  one-half  nat.  size. 


242  ON    PLANTS    NEW    TO    SOUTH    QUEENSLAND, 

Plate  XIIT. 

Fig.   1. — Belemnites    australis,    Phillips?    or    B.    oxys,     nobis, 
ventral  aspect. 

,,     2. — Ditto  lateral  aspect  showing  the  slight   curve   of  the 

lateral  groove. 
,,     3. — End  view  with  alveolar  cavity,  lying  on' ventral  surface. 
All  figures  two-thirds   natural  size. 


A  Second  Half-Century  of  Plants  new  to  South  Queensland. 
By  the  Rev.  B.  Scortechini,  F.L.S. 
Dilleniace^. 
Hibhertia  fasciculata,  R.  Br.  in  Dc.  Syst.  Yeg.  i,  428 
On  moist  ground  near  Burleigh    Head      It  departs  from  the 
typical  species  in  the  smaller  size  of  its  flowers.     Having  a  wide 
geographical   range,  variations   must  occur,  caused  by   its  adapt- 
ability to  diSerent  climates  and  various  soils. 

Pittospore^. 

Pittosporum  phillyrcBoides,  Dc,  Prod,  i.,  347. 

It  is  somewhat  strange  to  find  this  plant  on  the  eastern  side  of 
the  dividing  range.  It  looks  like  a  straggler  from  its  home. 
Although  ubiquitous  through  the  Australian  continent  on  the 
western  slopes  and  desert  regions,  the  height  of  the  Australian 
divide  limits  its  geographical  distribution  towards  the  east.  A 
few  solitary  trees  of  this  Pittosporum  may  be  seen  growing  on 
knolls  of  loose  stones,  which  here  and  there  give  rise  to  tufts  of 
vegetation  close  by  the  Dugundan  jungle  along  the  Teviot  Brook. 

BlXINE^. 

Scolojna  Brownii,  F.  v.  M.,  Frag,  iii.,  11. 

The  flowers  of  the  collected  specimensbeing  imperfect,  afford  no 
conclusive  proof  of  the  identity  of  this  species  ;  still  there  is  left 
enough  available  to  form  a  very  probable  opinion.     There  was  no 


BY    THE    REV.  B.  SCORTECHINI,  F.L.S.  243 

other  Queensland  abode  nearer  than  Rockingham  Bay  recorded  for 
this  plant.  As  on  the  other  hand,  records  are  extant  of  its  being 
foimd  on  the  Clarence  in  New  South  Wales,  its  presence  at 
Tallebadgera,  where  my  specimens  were  gathered,  is  not  to  be 
wondered  at.  In  intermediate  stations  between  South  Queensland 
and  Rockingham  Bay,  it  may  yet  be  discovered. 
Caryophylle^. 

Stellaria  flaccida,  Hook,  Comp.  Bot.  Mag.  i.,  275. 

Years  ago,   specimens  of  this  plant   were  obtained   by  me  at 
Lytton,  and  later  still,  at  Bundaberg  on  the  Burnett. 
Sapindace^. 
Gastanospora  Alphandi.  F.  v.  M.  Frag.  II..  92. 

Like  Scolopia  Brownit,  F.  v.  M.,  there  is  no  record  of  its 
existence  in  South  Queensland,  although  it  has  been  noticed  at  the 
Tweed  River.  This  beautiful  tree  with  an  attractive  foliage  and 
large  panicles  of  ilowers,  grows  along  the  banks  of  Tallebadgera 
Creek,  and  a  few  miles  further  north  on  the  Mudgeraba  Creek. 
Several  years  ago  it  attracted  my  notice,  and  its  flowers  awakened 
an  interest  in  it.  For  want  of  fruits,  it  was  then  impossible  to 
assign  to  it  any  genus  of  the  Sapindace^e,  to  which  order  evidently 
it  belonged.  Only  last  summer  the  fruits  were  seen  by  me,  and 
their  shape,  which  reminds  one  of  the  chestnut,  suggested  the  genus 
Castanos^Jora,  and  on  further  examination  it  was  found  to  be 
Gastanospora  Alphandi.  Before  the  fruits  were  known,  this  tree 
was  relegated  among  the  Gup)ania.  It  is  only  within  the  jjresent 
decade  that  that  it  was  raised  to  generic  rank.  The  name  chosen 
by  Baron  von  Mueller,  is  a  most  happy  one,  as  at  the  first  sight  of 
the  fruit,  no  one  can  mistake  it  for  any  other  genus.  Would  that 
all  botanists  selected  appropriate  names  for  their  new  genera  and 
species.  Much  trouble  would  be  thus  avoided. 
Leguminos^. 
Goodia  latifolia,  Salisb.  Par.  Lond.  i.,  41. 

Close  to  dense  forests  on  the  upper  Nerang  Creek.  Its  height 
reaches  over  fifteen  feet,  and  its  beautiful  obovate  leaflets  exceed 
an  inch  in  diameter.  A  very  wide  distribution  may  be  claimed  for 
this  plant. 


244  ON    PLANTS    NEW    TO    SOUTH    QUEENSLAND, 

Hovea  linearis,  E.  Br.  in  Ast.  Hort.,  Kew  iv.,  275. 

At  Burleigh  Head  and  other  localities  through  the  district. 
Indigo f era  saxicola?  F.  v.  M.  in  Fl.  Austr.  ii.,  199. 

If  cannot  with  certainty  be  determined  whether  the  specimens 
gathered  at  Coodria  on  the  Teviot  Brook,  belong  to  this  species  or 
to  an  extreme  variety  of  the  widely  distributed  /.  australis  Willd. 
approaching  /.  saxicola.  The  number  of  leaflets  in  the  Coodria 
specimens  is  invariably  five,  rather  orbicular  in  shape,  with  latent 
veins ;  characters  belonging  to  /.  saxicola  exclusively.  Other 
characters  obtained  from  the  calyx  and  indumentum  of  the  plant, 
point  likewise  to  /.  saxicola.  Besides  its  habit,  which  gives  a  name 
to  the  species,  is  to  grow  among  stones,  where  this  plant  is 
generally  to  be  found.  As  the  original  specimens  from  which 
/.  saxicola  was  described,  are  from  such  distant  stations  as  North 
Australia,  and  Port  Essington,  and  seemed  to  be  confined  there,  a 
reasonable  doubt  may  arise  that  the  Coodria  specimens  are  not  of 
/.  saxicola,  but  pertain  to  some  extreme  variety  of  the  proteiform 
/.  australis.  If  so,  a  link  exists  between  /.  saxicola  and  I.  australis, 
which  would  render  unstable  the  position  of  I  saxicola  as  a  distinct 
species. 

Acacia  viscidula,  A.  Cunn.  in  Hook.  Lond.  Jour,  i.,  363. 

At  Minto's  Craig  on  the  Upper  Teviot.  The  same  species  has 
been  observed  to  grow  in  abundance  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Stanthorpe. 

Albizzia  Hendersoni,  F.  v.  M.  Trin.  Jour.  1872,  p.  10. 

This  and  its  congener,  A  Tozeri,  F.  v.  M.,  grow  very  luxuriantly 
on  the  banks  of  Tallebadgera  Creek.  As  graceful  shrubs  to  adorn 
a  garden,  they  can  be  compared  to  few  plants.  The  characters  on 
which  the  generic  distribution  of  Alhizzia  and  Pithecolobium  rests, 
have  been  deemed  of  too  slight  importance  by  Baron  von  Mueller 
to  warrant  the  autonomy  of  both  genera  ;  and  thus  they  have  been 
fused  by  him  into  one  genus,  under  the  name  of  Albizzia.  The 
extra- Australian  genera  so  closely  allied  to  them.  Calliandra, 
Benth,  Enterolobium,  Mart.  Serianthes,  Benth,  follow  the  same 
course,  loose  their  independent  status,  and  are  admitted  only  as 
sections  or  sub-genera  of  Albizzia.     These  genera  are  difficult  to 


BY    THE    REV.   B.   SCORTECHINI,  F.L.S.  245 

separate  ;  their  union  seems  to  be  more  natural.  Still  in  practice 
they  will  long  be  kept  distinct ;  because  their  distinctive  characters, 
although  not  strongly  marked  and  highly  important,  yet  afford 
artificial  means  for  the  easy  recognition  of  their  species.  Baillon 
in  his  ''Hist,  des  Plant,"  although  omitting  the  gemiH  Albizziaj 
still  does  not  merge  its  species  into  the  genus  Pithecolohium,  or 
allied  genera,  but  frames  for  them  a  section  under  the  prolific 
genus  Acacia,  while  Caliandra,  Enterolohium,  Serianthes  still 
keep  their  generic  position.  The  genus  Alhizzia  reconstructed 
according  to  Baron  Miiller's  views  forces  some  changes  in 
the  nomenclature  of  the  species  it  embraces.  What  Bentham 
describes  in  Fl.  aust.  II.,  424,  as  Pithecolohium  grandi- 
floru7ii,  the  occurrence  of  which  on  South  Queensland  soil,  I 
noticed  in  a  former  paper  to  this  Society,  should  be  Alhizzia 
grandiflora.  But  as  Serianthes  now  becomes  Alhizzia,  and 
Serianthes grandiflora  of  Bentham,  should  likewise  become  Alhizzia 
grandiflora,  we  would  have  two  quite  different  plants  belonging 
to  different  botanical  regions  designated  with  the  same  specific 
name.  The  Australian  Alhizzia  grandiflora  therefore  must 
surrender  its  name  as  already  preoccupied  by  another  Alhizzia, 
and  remains  open  to  accept  a  new  one.  Thus  a  new  name 
was  conferred  on  it  by  the  learned  Baron,  a  most  appropriate 
name,  because  it  is  a  monument  that  science  builds  to  one  of 
its  devotees,  a  monument  which  perpetuates  the  recollection  of 
the  sad  fate,  which  befell  Mr.  Tozer  while  in  search  of  the  pods 
of  this  very  scarce  plant.  This  a  very  touching  act  of  devotion  ! 
Mr.  Tozer  lost  his  life  in  drawing  from  obscurity  one  of  God's 
creatures,  and  his  zeal  deserves  to  be  preserved. 

Rosacea. 
Acaena  Sanguitorhce.  Wahl.  Enum.  PI.  1,  294. 
This  rosaceous  plant  so  common  through  N.  S.  Wales,  and 
southern  colonies,  becomes  very  scarce  near  the  Queensland 
borders.  Close  to  the  heights  of  Wilson's  Peak,  touching  N.  S. 
Wales,  and  Darling  Downs  boundaries,  some  plants  of  the  species 
may  be  noticed. 


246         ON  PLANTS  NEW  TO  SOUTH  QUEENSLAND, 

Saxifrageje. 

Argophyllum  Lejourdanii,  F.  v.  M.  Frag.  Y.,  33. 

Not    uncommon  along  the   watercourses    of    the  southernmost 

portion  of  the  district.     North   and    west    of  Tallebudgera   one 

loses  sight  of  this  silver-leaved  plant.     Its  graceful  slender  aspect, 

its  silvery  leaves,  and  golden  flowers   should  recommend  it  to  the 

gardener. 

Cuttsia  vihurnea.  F.  v.  M.  Frag.  Y.,  42. 
Yery  rare  at  Wilson's  Peak  on  the  road  to  Warwick. 

Quintinia  Verdonii.  F.  v.  M.  Frag.  II.,  225. 

Both  on  the  top  of  Tambourine  Mountain,  and  at  Tallebudgera 
in  the  jungles. 

Polyosma  Cunninghami.    J.  J.  Benn.  PI.  Yor.  Ear.  196. 

This  tree  not  small  as  described,  but  large,  attaining  near  one 
hundred  feet  in  height,  is  known  to  the  settlers  living  close  to 
the  N.  S.  Wales  littoral  boundaries  under  the  vernacular  name  of 
"  Hickory,  "  and  enjoys  a  good  repute  as  serviceable  timber. 
Many  trees  of  this  description  were  noticed  felled  on  the  ground 
in  the  clearing  of  forests. 

Weinmannia  lachnocarpa.     F.  v.  M.  Frag.  YIII.,  2. 

Most  plentiful  in  the  scrubs  that  crown  Tambourine  Moun- 
tains, the  Tallebudgera,  and  Mudgeraba  Bidges,  if  we  are  to 
judge  from  the  great  number  of  woolly  capsules,  which  cover  spots 
on  the  ground  all  over  these  jungles. 

Drosederace^. 
Drosera  peltata.     Sin.  in  Willd.  Sp.  PI.  1 ,  1546. 
Common  throughout  the  Logan  district. 

Halorage^. 
Haloragis  alata.  N.  J.  Jacq.  Jc.    PI.  I,    p.    69. 
"Rare  on  the  Logan. 

Haloragis  teucrioides.  A.  Gray.  Bot.  Wilk.  Expl.  Exp.  I.,  625, 
On  the   Logan   very    scarce.     As  the  main  specific  difference 
between  H.  tetragyna  B.  Br.,  and  this  species  consist  in  the  upper 
bracts  being  longer  than  the  flowers  in  H.   teucrioides,  and  conse- 
quently shorter  in  H.    tetragyna.     There  is  no  doubt  as  to  the 


I 


BY    THE    REV.   B.  SCORTECHINI,  F.L.S.  247 

few  specimens  gathered  on  the  Logan  belonging  to  H.  teiccrioides. 
H.  tetragyna  is  very  common  in  these  localities,  whereas  H. 
teucrioides  seldom  occurs  in  the  district. 

Myriophyllum  varioefolium.  J.   Hook,  Jc.  PI.  t.  289. 
In  many  swamps,  and  slow  running  creeks. 

Rhizophore^. 
Rhizophora  mucronata,  Lam.  Encljc.  meth.  VI.,  169. 
This  and  the  following  species  reach  from  the  tropics  to  our 
southern  shores.  Not  uncommon  on  the  saline  swamps  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Nerang  Creek.  I  learn  from  Baron  von  Mueller, 
that  its  bark  possesses  medicinal  properties.  It  has  been  tried  in 
cases  of  hsem.aturia.  The  stripping  of  the  bark,  which  is  of 
unusual  thickness  and  heavy  consistence,  may  prove  a  remunerative 
occupation  if  a  market  was  open  for  its  ready  disposal. 

Ceriops  CandoUecma,  Arn.  Ann.  Nat.  Hist.  I.,  364. 
Found  in  salt-water  estuaries.     It  mingles  with  Brugiera  Rheedi, 
Bl.,  Avicennia  offhcinalis^  L.,  uEgiceras  majus  Gaert,  all  along  the 
southern  coast. 

Myrtace^. 

Bceckea  crenulata^  R.  Br.  in  Flind.  voy.  548. 
There  are  two  most  remarkable  varieties  of  this  plant,  one  at 
Burleigh  Head,  and  the  other  at  Stradbroke  Island,  each  occupying 
the  utmost  opposite  limit  within  the  circle  of  specific  range.  The 
aspect,  habit,  leaves  of  both,  proclaim  them  utterly  distinct.  The 
one  of  Stradbroke  Island,  presents  a  trailing  habit  of  growth 
through  the  mass  of  entangled  vegetation  among  swamps,  with  long 
branches  almost  flagellate,  with  closely  appressed  leaves  nearly 
thrice  the  size  of  those  of  the  other  variety.  The  other  growing 
at  Burleigh  Head,  on  the  other  hand  is  virgate,  with  smaller  and 
more  spreading  leaves.  Its  resemblance  with  B.  densifolia  Sm.,  is 
very  striking.  When  gathering  the  two  on  the  swampy  ground 
near  Stanthorpe,  it  was  no  easy  matter  to  discriminate  one  from 
the  other.  B.  densifolia  and  this  variety  of  B.  crenulata,  seem 
more  like  one  another,  than  the  two  varieties  above  mentioned. 


248  ON  PLANTS  NEW  TO  SOUTH  QUEENSLAND, 

Melaleuca  thymifolia,  Sm.  Trans.  Linn.  Soc.  Ill,  278. 
Rather  common  on   wet    gullies   dividing  the  ridgy   and  sandy 
ground  of  the  Logan.      Although  it  has  been  recorded  by  Mr. 
Bailey   in   his  census  of  the   Brisbane  Flora,   there  is  no  record 
placed  in  any  page,  of  its  occurrence  in  this  district. 

Eucalyptus  rohusta,  Sm.  Spec.  Bot.  N.  Holl.  40. 

It  was  noticed  by  the  writer  some  years  ago,  growing  in  wet 
places  not  far  off  the  banks  of  the  Nerang  Creek.  Since  then, 
herborizing  with  Mr.  F.  M.  Bailey  at  Stradbroke  Island,  we  saw 
it  growing  there  close  to  Dunwich.  Afterwards  I  followed  its 
course  to  the  Brisbane  River,  and  as  far  inland  as  Brown  Plains, 
not  far  away  from  the  Logan.  In  all  instances,  this  gum  tree  was 
found  growing  on  wet  marshy  ground,  having  for  its  companion, 
Melaleuca  leucodendron  Lin.  Whether  this  tree  crosses  over  to 
the  north  side  of  the  Brisbane  River,  remains  to  be  proved  by 
further  investigation.  In  that  excellent  work  of  Baron  von 
Miiller  on  Eucalypts,  the  Queensland  abode  for  this  Eucalypt 
is  not  recorded.  To  the  uses  to  which  it  is  here  mentioned  to  be 
applied,  it  may  be  added  that  of  its  suitableness  for  piles,  to  be 
driven  in  salt  or  brackish  water.  Its  exceptional  fitness  to  with- 
stand the  ravages  of  what  is  commonly  known  as  "  cobbera,"  may 
be  ascribable  to  the  j^i'esence  of  Kino-red,  to  which  ^liieller 
attributes  its  freedom  from  destructive  insects. 
Eucalyptus  leucoxylon,  var.  minor,  F.  v.  M.  Trans.  Yict.  Inst.  I,  33. 

It  barely  crosses  the  boundaries  of  our  Colony  near  Wilson's 
Peak.  Few  trees  of  this  species  may  be  seen  amoLg  the  robust 
vegetation,  which  clothes  the  rugged  ridges  of  Macpherson's  Range. 
It  is  not  the  normal  type  that  we  see  here,  but  a  variety  called  by 
Baron  von  Mueller,  minor.  It  differs  not  alone  in  the  smaller 
size  of  the  flowers,  to  which  I  presume  its  name  as  a  variety  has 
reference,  but  in  its  whitish  bark,  whereas  the  typical  form 
presents  a  bark  so  decidedly  dark  and  rugged  as  to  resemble  our 
iron-barks,  by  v/hich  name  it  is  known  to  southern  colonists. 
These  features  afford  sufficient  ground  to  keep  it  as  a  distinct 
variety. 


BY    THE    REV.   B.  SCORTECHINI,  F.L.S.  249 

Myrtus  Beckleri  F.  v.  M.  Frag.  II.,  85. 

Tallebudgera  Creek. 

Eugenia  humilampra.  F.  v.   M.  IX.,  145. 

In  the  jungle  along  Nerang  Creek,  close  by  the  sea.  A  large 
tree  once  doubtfully  admitted  by  Baron  von  Mueller,  in  Frag.  IX., 
as  a  new  species,  and  which  has  now  received  its  full  specific 
rank  in  his  Systematic  Census  of  Australian  plants.  It  could 
scarcely  be  confused  with  E.  Smithii  Poia.,  its  nearest  ally. 
Eugenia  Moorei.  F.  v.  M.  Frag.  V.,  33. 

Abundant  in  the  littoral  forests  towards  the  boundary  lines  of 
the  colony.  A  handsome  tree,  compact,  and  of  beautiful  foliage ; 
it  would  well  answer  for  shade  planting.  The  fruit  is  large,  round, 
somewhat  flattened,  white  and  not  unpalatable.  This  plant  has 
been  considered  by  Bentham  Fl.  Austr.  III.,  285.  as  identical 
with  E.  Janibolana  Lann.  but  the  much  divaricate  trichotomous 
panicles,  which  arise  from  the  older  branches,  and  as  I  would 
observe  from  the  trunk  of  the  tree,  the  red  filaments  longer  than 
in  E.  Jambolana,  and  other  characters  have  induced  Baron  von 
Mueller  to  separate  it  from  the  true  E.  Jambolana,  and  distinguish 
it  with  a  name  commemorative  of  the  services  to  botanic  researches 
of  Mr.  C.  Moore  of  the  Sydney  Botanical  Gardens. 

Eugenia  corynantha.  F.  v.  M.    Frag.  IX.,  144. 

A  tree  of  lesser  dimensions  than  the  preceding  one,  with  which 
it  may  be  well  associated  for  the  purpose  of  shade  and  beauty.  It 
grows  in  abundance  about  Tallebudgera.  Flowers  are  not  very 
conspicuous. 

Eugenia,  Hodgkinsonice.  F.  v.  M.  IX.,  145. 
In  general  aspect  of  foliage  and  stature  similar  to  E.  corynantha^ 
F.  V.  M.,  and  like  it  a  desirable  addition  to  shrubberies.  It  excels 
all  the  others.  The  copiousness  of  large  flowers  in  terminal 
panicles,  which  emit  a  sweet  perfume  even  long  after  they  have 
been  plucked  renders  it  superior  in  a  garden  to  any  other  rose 
apple.  It  is  frequently  met  wdth  in  the  Tallebudgera  jungles,  and 
at  the  time  of  flowering  the  sweetness  of  its  scent  spreading  for  a 
long  distance  through  the  thickness  of  that  rich  vegetation  makes 
its  presence  felt. 


250  ON    PLANTS    NEW    TO    SOUTH    QUEENSLAND, 

Eugenia  oleosa.  F.  v.  M.  Frag.  Y.  15. 
Either  a  low  undershrub  in  the  open  sand  banks  at  Nerang 
Creek,  or  a  slender  tree  in  the  forests  both  at  Nerang  Creek  and  at 
the  southern  end  of  Stradbroke  Island.  The  berries  somewhat 
resemble  those  of  E.  my sti folia,  yet  they  are  more  globular,  of  a 
deep  red  colour  tending  to  purple  with  a  tinge  of  blue.  In  taste 
they  are  quite  different.  The  acid  principle  which  renders  the 
berries  of  E.  mystifolia  palateable  is  absent  in  those  of  E.  oleosa' 

Onagrarie^. 
Epilohium  tetragonum.  Linn,  Sp.  PL,  348. 
Very  scanty  in  few  localities  of  the  Logan  district.  Six  species 
of  Australian  Epilobium  were  kept  distinct,  and  enumerated  by 
Bentham  in  his  Flora  Australiensis.  The  gradual  passages  of  one 
form  into  another  have  persuaded  Baron  von  Mueller  not  to 
acknowledge  but  one  good  species,  the  Linnean  E.  tetrago7ium. 
Many  species  which  now  are  deemed  good  ones,  will  undergo  the 
same  fate,  when  inspections  of  more  abundant  material  show  the 
imperceptible  transitions  of  one  form  into  another. 

FlCOIDE^. 

Macarthuria  neocambrica,  F.  v.  M.  Frag.  II,  11. 
Both  at  Stradbroke  Island  and  near  Burleigh  Head,  it  grows 
rather  abundantly  on  sandy  soil. 

Mollugo  spergula,  Linn.  Sp.  PI.  131,  Sec.  ed. 
At  Wilson's  Peak.     I  believe  it  grows  near  Brisbane. 

Umbellifer^. 
HydroGotyh  laxiflora,  Dc.  Prod.  IV.,  6 J. 
At  Dugundan  on  the  Teviot. 

Hydrocotyle  tripartita,  R.  Br.  Ann.  des  sc.  phys.  VI.,  46. 
Throughout  the  Logan. 

Hydrocotyle  pedicellosa,  F.  v.  M.  Frag.  IV.,  182. 
Most  plentiful  on  Tambourine  jVIountain  at  Tallebadgera,  close 
to  edges  of  the  jungles  on  damp  ground. 


BY    THE    REV.   B,  SCORTECHINI,   F.L.S.  251 

Trachymene  linearis,  Spreng.  Sp.  Umb.,  7. 

Trachymene  Billaidieri,  Benth.  Fl.  Austr.  Ill  ,  o56. 

Both  have  been  gathered  near  Point  Danger.  All  the  species 
included  in  the  genera  Siebera  and  Trachymeite,  have  been  united 
by  Mueller  into  one  genus  under  the  latter  appellation.  Many- 
characters  once  held  good  to  distinguish  one  species  from  another 
in  the  genus  Siebera,  now  break  down,  and  these  forms  become 
untenable  as  species.  Further  discoveries  will  call  for  further 
reduction  of  species. 

Araliace^. 

Panax  sambucifolius,  Sieb.  in  Dc.  Prod.  Ill,  255. 
At  Tambourine  Mountain. 

LORANTHACE^. 

Loranthus  Bidwillii,  Benth.  Fl.  Aust.  III.,  390. 

On  branches  of  Callitris  cwpressifonnis,  Vent.  ;  it  grows  at 
Nerang  Creek  Heads.  The  same  mistletoe  is  more  widely  spread 
at  Stanthorpe  on  the  same  kind  of  pine,  and  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Mary,  from  which  district  the  original  specimen  sent  by  Mr. 
Bidwill,  whose  name  it  bears,  probably  came. 

KUBIACEiE. 

Randia  Moorei.  F.  v.  M.  in  Fl.  Austr.  III.,  411. 
^  A  small  tree  growing  at  Yatala  near  the  banks  of  the  Albert,  a 
main  tributary  to  the  Logan. 

Randia  BentJiamiana.  F.  v.  M.  Frag.  IX.,  180. 

At  Tallebudgera  this  small  shrub  occasionally  may  be  met  with. 
The  inflorescence,  flowers,  shape  of  fruit  globular  in  outline,  all 
bespeak  a  species  quite  distinct  from  R.  charbacea  with  which  it 
may  be  confused  in  its  living  state. 

Randia  dentiflora.  Benth.  Fl.  Hough.,  153. 
On  the  Goomora.    I  gathered  specimens  of  the  same  species  in  the 
Burnett  district,  where  it  attains  larger  dimensions. 


252  THE    FISHES    OF    NEW    GUINEA, 

Ixora  Beckleri.  Bentli.  ¥\.  Austr.   III.,  415. 
On  the  Coomora. 

Timonius  Rumphii.  Dc.  Prod.  IV.,  461. 
At  Peel  Island  and  Stradbroke  Island. 

Knoxia  corymhosa  Willd.  Spec.  PI.  I.,  582. 
At  Mudgeraba,  and  Knapp's  Creek.     Even  in  these  two  places 
it  seems  to  be  scarce. 

Asperula  oligantha  F.  v.  M.  in  Heerl.  Kamid.  Arch.  TV. 
The  variety  conferta,  once  acknowledged  as  a  distinct  species  is 
very  common  on  the  flats  of  the  Upper  Lagoon.  Another  variety 
elongata  was  gathered  by  the  writer  at  Stanthorpe.  Under  the 
name  A.  oligamtha  Baron  von  Mueller,  in  Frag.  IX.,  187,  has 
collected  A.  subsimplex  Hook.  A.  scoparia,  Hook.  A  Gunul, 
Hook.     A  pitsilla,  Hook.     ^4.  mimina,  Hook. 

Galium  australe.  Dc.  Prod.  IV,,  608. 
On  the  Logan.  Under  Galium  australe,  the  forms,  aporinc,  and 
albescens  are  now  included  ;  and  under  G.  umbrosum  of  Solander 
we  have  varieties  of  G.  gemini folium  F.  v.  M.  Gaudichaudi  Dc. 
and  cUiare  Hook.  Without  much  hesitation  the  genera  Galium 
and  As2Jerida  may  be  thrown  into  one,  as  they  do  not  present 
imjDortant  generic  differences.  The  reduction  of  species  in  both 
genera  may  portend  generic  reduction. 


Contribution  to  a  Knowledge  of  the   Fishes  cf  New 
Guinea,  No.  4. 

By  William  Macleay,  F.L.S.,  &c. 
In  my  three  previous  papers  on  this  subject,  I  gave  a  list  of  all 
the  fishes  collected  by  Mr.  Goldie  at  and  about  Port  Moresby,  and 
a  few  places  on  the  coast  lying  north  and  west  from  it ;  I  now  give 
the  results  of  his  labours  in  the  extreme  south  east  of  New 
Guinea,  including  collections  made  at  Hood  Bay  and  eastward  to 
the  D'Entrecastreaux  Group  of  Islands.  A  few  only  are  from  the 
Gulf  of  Papua. 


i 


BY  WILLIAM    MACLEAY,  F.L.S.,  &C.  253 

PERCID^. 
275.  PsAMMOPERCA  Waigiensis.     Cuv  and  Yal. 
Macl.  Cat.  Proc.  Linn.  Soc,  K  S.  Wales,  Yol.  5,  p.  307. 
r.  datnioides  Richards,  Yoy.,  Ereb.  and  Terr.,  p    116,  pi.  57, 
fig.  1-2. 

"  Ganu  Ganu  "  of  the  natives. 
£[ab. — Gulf  of  Papua, 

276.  Anthias  Mortoni.     n.  sp. 

D.  10/17.     A.  3/8.     L.  lat.  40,  L.  tr.  4/13. 

Height  of  body  one-fourth  of  the  total  length  ;  snout  shorter 
than  the  diameter  of  the  eye  ;  mouth  oblique,  small,  the  maxillary 
broad  and  triangular,  reaching  to  below  the  middle  of  the  eye ;  the 
space  between  the  eyes  convex,  and  equal  to  nearly  two  diameters 
of  the  orbit.  The  first  dorsal  spine  is  small,  the  second  a  little 
longer,  the  third  is  produced  into  a  filament,  and  is  thrice  the  length 
of  the  following  ones  ;  the  second  and  third  anal  spines  are  about 
equal  in  length,  the  third  and  fourth  rays  are  elongate  ;  the  caudal 
fin  is  long  and  forked,  with  the  lobes  produced.  Mr.  Gol die's 
description  of  the  colouring,  is  "  slate  blue,  witb  crimson  stripe  on 
gills,  and  flame  colour  fins  and  tail,  the  latter  has  a  light  edge. 
Eye  green." 

"  Maru-watti-kerara  "  of  the  natives. 

Hab.  — Pitt  Bay,  Moresby  Island. 

277.  Serranus  microdon.     Bleek. 
Epinephelus  microdon,  Bleek,  Atl.    Tchth.  Perc,  p.  57,  tab.  3, 
fig.  3. 

"  Curan  "  of  the  natives. 
Hah. — Engineer  group. 

278.  Serranus  Howlandi.     Gunth. 
Journ.  Mus.  Godff.  Heft.   3,  p.  8,  Tab.  IX.,  fig.  B. 
"  Bulavu  "  of  the  natives. 
Hah. — Hood  Bay. 


254  THE    FISHES    OF    NEW    GUINEA,    . 

279.  Serranus  Damelii.     Gunth. 

Ann.  and  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  1876,  Vol.  XVII..  p.  391.  Casteln, 
Proc.  Linn.  Soc,  N.  S.  Wales,  vol.  3,  p.  365. 

"  Keborria  "  of  the  natives. 

Mr.  Goldie  found  this  fish  in  fresh  water  at  Normanby  Island, 
D'Entrecastreaux  Group.  It  seems  to  me  to  be  identical  with  our 
black  rock  cod. 

Serranus  Hoedtii,  argus  and  urodelus,  were  also  taken  in  or  near 
China  Straits,  but  I  do  not  number  them  as  they  have  been  already 
recorded  from  other  parts  of  New  Guinea. 

280.   Mesoprion  marginifinnis.      n.  sp. 

D.  10/13.     A.  3/7.     L.  lat.  50. 

The  height  of  the  body  is  about  equal  to  the  length  of  the  head, 
and  is  rather  less  than  a  third  of  the  total  length.  The  profile  is 
straight,  the  eye  large,  the  snout  is  a  little  longer  than  the 
diameter  of  the  orbit,  and  the  space  between  the  eyes  is  about 
equal  to  it.  The  maxillary  reaches  almost  to  the  vertical  from  the 
middle  of  the  eye.  The  top  of  the  head  and  the  praeorbital  are 
scaleless,  the  prseoperculum  is  finely  denticulated,  and  has  a  broad 
shallow  notch  above  the  angle ;  the  operculum  is  unarmed,  and  the 
coracoid  is  serrated.  The  scales  are  small,  adherent  and  ciliated. 
The  dorsal  fin  after  the.  first  spine  is  nearly  uniform  in  height 
throughout,  the  longest  spine  (the  fourth)  is  in  height  rather  less 
than  one-third  of  the  height  of  the  body,  the  second  anal  spine  is 
slightly  thicker  and  about  the  same  length  as  the  third  ;  the 
pectorals  are  slightly  falcate  and  reach  beyond  the  vent ;  the  caudal 
is  emargiuate.  The  colour  seems  to  have  been  silvery-grey,  darker 
on  the  back  than  on  the  sides  and  belly,  the  scales  on  the  sides 
seem  to  have  had  a  pearly  spot  in  the  centre  of  each  giving  a 
striped  appearance  to  the  fish;  the  dorsal  fin  has  a  deep  black 
margin  aloDg  its  whole  length  with  the  extreme  tips  of  the  rays 
white,  the  caudal  is  blackish  with  white  tips ;  the  other  fins  are 
yellow.     Length,  7  inches. 

Hab. — Normanby  Island.     From  fresh  water. 


BY  WILLIAM    MACLEAY,   F.L.S.,  &C.  255 

281.  Mesoprion  sexfasciatus.  n.  sp. 

D.  10/13.     A.  3/7.     L.  lat.  50. 

Of  compressed  form  ;  the  height  of  the  body  is  one  third  of  the 
total  length ;  the  profile  is  straight,  the  space  between  the  eyes  rather 
flat,  and  less  than  the  diameter  of  the  orbit,  which  is  about  equal  to 
the  length  of  the  snout.  The  canine  teeth  in  the  upper  jaw  are 
large,  the  maxillary  reaches  to  below  the  middle  of  the  eye,  the 
prfeoperciilum  is  minuately  serrated  on  the  posterior  limb  and 
finely  denticulated  at  the  angle  and  on  the  lower  limb,  the  notch 
above  the  angle  is  very  slight.  The  dorsal  fin  is  very  slightly 
notched,  the  second  spine  of  the  anal  is  stronger  but  not  longer 
than  the  third,  the  pectorals  reach  to  the  vent,  the  caudal  is 
truncate.  The  colour  according  to  Mr.  Goldie,  is  greyish  green, 
there  are  six  narrow  light  coloured  faseiae  on  each  side  ;  the  fins 
and  tail  are  according  to  the  same  authority  reddish,  but  there  has 
evidently  been  some  black  on  the  anal  fin. 

"  Malabrunna  "  of  the  natives. 

A  small  fish,  said  to  be  from  fresh  water.     Normanby  Island. 

Mesaprian  ruhens,  Goldiei,  parvidens,  fulvijlam77ia,  7nonostigma, 
and  vitta  were  also  got  at  Hood  Bay. 

282.  Grammistes  orientalis.     B1. 
Gunth.  Cat.  Yol.  1  p.  171.       Macl.  Cat.  Proc.   Linn.  Soc.  N.  S. 
Wales,  Yol.  5,  p.  326. 

"  Arctiatoma  "  of  the  natives.     Hood  Bay, 

283.  Ambassis  commersonl 
Gunth.  Cat.  1  p.  223.     Proc.   Linn.   Soc,  N.   S.   Wales,  Yol.  5, 
p.  337. 

Milne  Bay.     From  fresh  water. 

284.  Apogon    BURUENSis.     Bleek. 
Atl.  Ichth.  Perc.  p.  102,  tab.  75,  fig.  2.     Gunth.  Cat.  1,  p.  245. 
From  fresh  water.      Normanby  Island. 

285.    Apogon  macropterus.       Car.  and  Yal. 
Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Perc.  p.  103,  Tab.  68,  fig.  2.     Gunth.  Cat.  1, 
p.  244. 

Syn.  A.  fuGatus,macropteroides,and  Bleekeri.    Gunth,  Cat.  Fish. 


256  THE    FISHES    OF    NEW    GUINEA, 

286.  Apogon  trimaculatus.     Cuv.  and  Yal. 

Gunth.  Cat.  1  p.  233.     Less    Yoy.  Coq.  Zool.  p.  237. 

Apogon  Amhoinensis  previously  recorded,  was  also  included  in 
this  collection. 

Genus    Tetracentrum. 

Six  branchiostegals.  Teeth  viliform  with  an  outer  series  of 
larger  ones ;  teeth  on  the  vomer  and  palatine  bones.  One  dorsal 
fin  ;  the  anal  fin  with  four  spines.  Operculum  without  spine ; 
prseoperculum  with  a  double  denticulated  edge.  Scales  large, 
rather  deciduous. 

I  place  this  genus  with  that  section  of  the  Percidae  named  by 
Dr.  Gunther  Apoyonina,  on  account  of  a  general  resemblance  in 
form,  its  large  deciduous  scales,  and  double-ridged  praseoperculum. 
The  continuous  dorsal  fin,  and  four  spined  anal,  are  however 
foreign  to  thp  group. 

287.  Tetracentrum  apogonoides.     n,  sp. 

D.  9/10.     A.  4/9.     L.  lat.  30.     L.  tr.  4/7. 

Body  elevated,  compressed,  the  height  being  about  one-half 
the  length,  exclusive  of  the  caudal  fin  ;  the  length  of  the  head  is 
one-third  of  the  same.  The  profile  from  the  first  dorsal  spine  to 
above  the  eye,  is  much  curved  and  forms  a  nari-ow  ridge,  above 
the  eye  it  becomes  broad  and  concave,  and  towards  the  snout 
convex  and  swollen.  The  eye  is  large,  its  diameter  being  about 
equal  to  the  space  between  the  eyes.  The  mouth  is  oblique,  the 
lower  jaw  rather  prominent ;  the  maxillary  reaches  to  the  vertical 
from  the  anterior  third  of  the  eye.  The  inner  double  praeopercular 
edge  is  strongly  toothed  at  the  angle,  the  outer  is  very  strongly 
denticulated  along  its  entire  edge,  the  suborbital,  prseorbital^ 
interoperculum  and  sub-operculum,  are  also  denticulated  on  the 
lower  edges.  The  dorsal  fin  takes  its  rise  a  little  behind  the 
vertical  from  the  base  of  the  pectorals,  the  first  spine  is  less  than  half 
the  size  of  the  second,  the  ninth  is  a  little  longer  than  the  eighth. 
They  are  all  strong  and  curved  a  little  backwards.  The  aual 
spines  are  strong,  the  first  less  than  half  the  length  of  the  others. 
The  caudal  fin  is  somewhat  long,  with  the  lobes  rather  produced. 


BY  WILLIAM    MACLEAY,   F.L.S.,  SlC.  257 

The  scales  cover  the  whole  body  except  the  top  of  the  head,  a 
single  row  of  smaller  scales  protects  the  base  of  the  soft  dorsal  and 
anal  fins.  The  colour  of  the  larger  specimens  is  uniform  dull 
silvery  gray,  but  young  specimens  show  a  black  blotch  above  the 
anal  spines,  and  something  resembling  a  black  vitta  on  the  posterior 
portion  of  the  lateral  line ;  there  seems  also  to  have  been  a  black 
opercular  patch. 

A  number  of  specimens  were  brought  from  Goldie  Kiver  and 
other  fresh  water  streams,  varying  in  size  from  7  to  2  inches  in 
length. 

288.  DuLES  GuAMENSis.      Cur.  &  Yal. 

Gunth.  Cat.  1,  p.  269.  Dum.  D'Urv.  Yoy.  Pole  Sud.  p.  42,  PI. 
3,  fig.  1. 

"  Paamana  "  of  the  natives. 

Taken  in  fresh  water,  Normanby  Island. 

289.    DuLES    PAPUENSIS.      n.    sp. 

D.  10/11.     A.  3/11.     L.  lat.  42. 

Height  of  body  one-third  of  the  total  length,  and  length  of  head 
about  one-fourth  of  the  same.  Eyes  large,  the  space  between 
them  slightly  convex  and  about  equal  in  width  to  the  diameter  of 
the  orbit  ;  snout  short,  rounded  ;  mouth  oblique,  the  lower  jaw 
slightly  the  longest,  the  maxillary  reaches  to  the  vertical  from  the 
middle  of  the  eye,  the  prseorbital  is  very  narrow  and  serrated,  the 
praeoperculum  is  minutely  serrated  on  the  inferior  edge ;  the 
operculum  has  two  spines.  The  first  spine  of  the  dorsal  fin  is  very 
small,  the  fourth  and  fifth  are  the  longest,  the  tenth  is  nearly 
twice  the  length  of  the  ninth ;  the  anal  spines  are  of  about  equal 
thickness,  the  third  longest ;  the  caudal  is  emarginate.  The  colour 
is  a  steel  blue  towards  the  back,  and  silvery  on  the  sides  and  belly, 
with  a  few  scattered  blackish  spots  on  the  side  towards  the  tail, 
the  soft  dorsal  and  anal  fins  are  black-edged,  and  the  caudal  is 
narrowly  tipped  with  black.      Length,  7  inches. 

Hab. — Goldie  River.     Fresh  water. 

Dules  ciliatus,  from  fresh  water,  Milne  Bay,  also  formed  part  of 
the  colJection. 


258  THE    FISHES    OF    NEW    GUINEA. 

290.  Therapon  nasutus.     n.  sp. 

D.   12/9.     A.  3/8.     L.  lat.  58. 

The  height  of  the  body  is  more  than  one-third  of  the  total 
length,  and  considerably  more  than  the  length  of  the  head.  The 
profile  from  the  occiput  to  the  snout  is  straight,  the  space  between 
the  eyes  is  flat  and  its  width  is  more  than  the  diameter  of  the 
orbit,  the  snout  is  long  and  roundly  pointed,  the  distance  from  the 
eye,  which  is  large,  to  the  snout  nearly  equals  two  diameters  of  the 
orbit ;  the  maxillary  only  reaches  to  the  vertical  from  the  anterior 
margin  of  the  eye,  the  lower  jaw  is  shorter  than  the  upper  and 
shuts  into  it;  the  prseorbital  is  large,  naked,  and  without  serration  ; 
the  praeoperculum  is  strongly  denticulated  and  without  scales  on  the 
limb,  the  operculum  is  armed  with  two  acute  spines  placed  rather 
close  together ;  the  coracoicl  is  of  truncated  form,  and  is  strongly 
denticulated.  The  spines  of  the  dorsal  fin  are  very  strong,  the 
first  is  small,  the  fourth  and  fifth  are  the  longest,  they  can  all  be 
received  into  a  scaly  sheath  on  the  back  grooved  on  each  side ;  the 
anal  spines  are  also  very  strong,  the  second  the  largest ;  the  caudal 
is  slight  emarginate. 

Colour  silvery  grey,  a  broad  band  through  the  anal  fin,  and  the 
anterior  rays  of  the  ventrals,  blackish.     Length,  1 1  inches. 

From  fresh  water,  Normanby  Island. 

291.  Therapon  interruptus.     n.  sp. 

D.   12/10.     A.  3/8.     L.  lat.  50. 

The  height  of  the  body  is  less  than  one-third  of  the  total  length, 
and  very  little  more  than  the  length  of  the  head.  The  profile  is  of 
uniform  convexity  from  the  dorsal  fin  to  the  snout,  which 
terminates  in  a  rounded  point.  The  eyes  are  of  moderate  size,  the 
space  between  convex,  and  in  width  equal  to  nearly  twice  the 
diameter  of  the  orbit ;  the  distance  from  the  eye  to  the  point  of 
the  snout  is  rather  more  than  twice  the  diameter  of  the  orbit.  The 
lips  are  thick,  the  upper  one  completely  overlaps  the  lower,  the 
maxillary  reaches  to  below  the  anterior  margin  of  the  eye,  and  is 
only  slightly  visible  above  the  posterior  part  of  the  upper  lip.  The 
praeorbital  is  broad,  naked,  and  apparently  without  serration,  the 


BY   WILLIAM    MACLEAY,  F.L.S.,  <fec.  259 

prseoperculiim  is  regularly  but  not  strongly  denticulated ;  the 
operculum  has  two  spines,  the  upper  one  small ;  the  coracoid  is 
rounded  behind  and  with  a  few  denticulations.  The  dorsal  spines 
are  moderately  strong,  the  first  minute,  the  fifth  and  sixth 
longest ;  the  anal  spines  are  very  strong,  the  second  largest ;  the 
caudal  fin  is  slightly  emarginate.  The  colour  is  silvery  grey,  with 
three  longitudinal  more  or  less  interrupted  brown  bands  on  each 
side  below  the  lateral  line,  and  four  or  five  vertical  brown  blotches 
above  the  lateral  line.  Length,  10  inches. 
Fresh  water.      Normanby  Island. 

292.  Therapon  chalybeus.     n.  sp. 
D.    12/10.     A.  3/8.      L.  lat.  60. 

Of  compressed  form.  Height  of  the  body  one-third,  and  length 
of  head  one-fourth  of  the  total  length.  Profile  almost  straight, 
a  very  slight  prominence  over  the  eyes.  Eyes  large,  distance 
from  one  another  about  equal  to  the  diameter  of  the  orbit,  the 
length  of  the  snout  about  the  same.  The  mouth  is  small,  the 
maxillary  not  nearly  reaching  to  below  the  anteiior  margin  of 
the  eye  ;  the  praeorbital  is  serrated  ;  the  prgeoperculum  is  strongly 
denticulated  particularly  towards  the  angle  ',  the  operculum  is 
two-spined,  the  upper  one  small ;  the  coracoid  and  scapular  are 
finely  denticulated.  The  dorsal  spines  are  moderate,  the  fifth 
longest,  the  anal  spines  are  very  strong,  the  second  largest ;  the 
caudal  is  emarginate.  The  colour  seems  to  have  been  of  a  chaly- 
beate hue  all  over,  the  fins  hyaline  with  some  black  on  the  anal 
and  tip  of  the  ventrals.     Length,  4  inches. 

Fresh  water.     Normanby  Island. 

293.  Therapon  trimaculatus.     n.  sp. 

D.  13/11.     A.  3/11.     L.  lat   50. 

Height  of  body  half  the  length  excluding  the  caudal  fin.  The 
profile  is  convex,  the  space  between  the  eyes  is  rounded  and  equals 
two  diamet  rs  of  the  orbit,  the  snout  is  rounded,  the  lips  thick, 
the  maxiil  y  reaches  to  below  the  anterior  margin  of  the  eye,  and 
is  rounde  ehind  ;  the  prseorbital  is  unarmed,  the  prseoperculum 
is  slightly  serrated,  the  lower  of  the  two  opercular  spines  is  rather 


260  THE    FISHES    OF    NEW    GUINEA, 

large  :  the  coracoid  is  large  and  serrated.  The  dorsal  spines  are 
strong,  the  fifth  and  sixth  longest,  the  anal  spines  very  strong  but 
not  very  long,  the  third  quite  as  long  as  the  second ;  the  soft 
dorsal  and  anal  fins  have  the  middle  rays  longest,  giving  them  a 
rounded  appearance ;  the  caudal  fin  is  very  slightly  emarginate. 
The  colour  seems  to  have  been  dark  brown  on  the  back  and  sides 
and  yellow  on  the  belly,  every  scale  appearing  to  have  a  central 
yellow  or  pearly  spot,  increasing  in  size  towards  the  belly,  two  or 
three  indistinct  longitudinal  blackish  bands  are  discernable  on  the 
sides  on  the  posterior  portion  of  the  body,  there  are  three  indistinct 
black  spots  placed  vertically  on  the  base  of  the  caudal  fin  ;  the 
extremities  of  the  soft  dorsal,  anal  and  caudal  fins  seem  to  have 
been  whitisli.  Length,  8  inches. 
Fresh  water.     Goldie  River. 

294.  Therapon  caudovittatus.     Richards. 

Voy.  Ereb.  and  Terr.  Fish,,  p.  24,  pi.  18,  fig.  3-5.  Gunth.  Cat. 
1,  p.  284. 

Gulf  of  Papua. 

Thercvpmi  servus  and  Cuvieri,  were  also  in  this  collection. 

295.  Diagramma  pardalis.     Guv.  and  Yal. 

Gunth.  Cat.  1,  p.  323.  D.  chcetodontoides,  Lacep.  Gunth.  Cat. 
1,  p.  326. 

Flectorhynchus  chcetodontoides,  Bleek.  Atl.  Ich.  Perc,  tab.  23, 
fig.  3,  and  tab.  25,  fig,  2, 

"  Deboro-gabu-gabu  "  of  the  natives. 

Hah, — China  Straits. 

296.  Diagramma  Lessonii.     Cuv.  and  Yal. 

Gunth.  Cat.  1,  p.  329.  Lesson.  Yov.  Coq.  Zool.,  vol.  2,  p.  199, 
pi.  24. 

Plectorhynchus  Lessoni,  Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Perc,  p.  19,  tab. 
39,  fig.  3. 

"  Kidali  "  of  the  natives. 

ffab. — Hood  Bay. 


i 


BY   WILLIAM    MACLEAY,  F.L.S.,  &C.  261 

297.    DiAGRAMMA   HiEMATOCHIR.       Bleek. 

Gunth.  Cat.  1,  p.  332. 

Dr.  Bleeker  first  described  this  species,  but  subsequently  in  Ms 
Atlas  Ichthyologique,  makes  it  a  synonym  of  D.  Goldmanni.  I 
believe  the  species  to  be  distinct. 

Hab. — Hood  Bay. 

299.  DiAGRAMMA  POLYT^NLA.     Bleek. 
Atl.  Ichth.  Perc,  p.  23,  tab.  17,  fig.  3.     Gunth.  Cat.  1,  p.  23. 
**  Manaha-cila-cila  "  of  the  natives. 
China  Straits. 

298.  DiAGRAMMA  RADJA.     Bleek. 
Atl.  Ichth.  Perc,  p.  2C,  tab.  14,  fig.  1.     Gunth.  Cat.  1,  p.  331. 
Hab  — Hood  Bay. 

300.  DiAGRAMMA   UNICOLOR.       n.  Sp. 

D.  12/20.     A.  3/7.     L.  lat.  70. 

The  height  of  the  body  is  about  2  J  times  in  the  total  length, 
the  length  of  the  head  four  times.  The  eyes  are  large,  the  space 
between  them  convex,  covered  with  minute  scales,  and  equal  in 
width  to  about  one  and  a-half  diameter  of  the  orbit ;  the  distance 
from  the  eye  to  the  extremity  of  the  snout,  is  about  two  diameters 
of  the  orbit.  The  mouth  is  small,  the  lips  thick,  the  maxillary 
does  not  reach  to  the  vertical  from  the  eye,  the  cheek  is  clothed 
with  minute  scales,  the  prseoperculum  is  minutely  serrated  on  the 
posterior  limb ;  the  dorsal  spines  are  strong,  the  fourth  and  fifth 
largest ;  the  second  and  third  anal  spines  about  equal,  the  soft 
dorsal  is  rounded  behind,  the  anal  pointed  ;  the  caudal  is  spread- 
ing and  truncate.  Colour  uniform,  dark  gray  in  spirits,  with  a 
greenish  yellow  tinge  towards  the  belly.     Length,  16  inches. 

"Sopa-sopa  "  of  the  natives. 

China  Straits. 

301.  Gerres  Poeti.     Cuv.  and  Yal. 

Gunth.  Cat.  1,  p.  341.     Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Perc,  tab.  77,  fig.  1. 
From  river  in  Milne  Bay. 


262  THE    FISHES    OF   NEW   GUINEA, 

302.  Synagris  furcosus.     Cuv.  and  Val. 

Gunth.  Cat.  1,  p.  373.  Macl.  Cat.  Fish.,  P.L.S.,  N.  S.  Wales, 
vol.  5,  p.  383. 

"  Rea-rea  "  of  the  natives. 

Pitt  Bay.     Moresby  Island, 

303.  CiESio  LUNARis.     Cuv.  and  Yal. 

Gunth.  Cat.  1,  p.  390.  Less.  Yoy.  Coq.  Zool.  3,  p.  186,  pi.  34. 
Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Perc,  p.  37,  tab.  56,  fig.  4. 

Exact  locality  not  given. 

304.   CiESio  CHRYSOZONA.     Cuv.  and  Yal. 

Gunth.  Cat.  1,  p.  392,  Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Perc.,  p.  39,  tab.  29, 
fig.  2. 

*•  Gawanni  "  of  the  natives. 

Pitt  Bay. 

This  may  be  a  distinct  species,  there  is  a  second  golden 
longitudinal  band  above  the  first,  not  mentioned  in  the  descriptions 
and  plates  of  G.  chrysozoma. 

Ccesio  ccerulaureus  was  also  taken  at  the  Eastern  end  of  New 

Guinea. 

SQUAMIPINNES. 

305.  CHiETODON  ORNATissiMUS.     Cuv.  and  Yal. 
Gunth.  Cat.  2,  p.  15.      Less.  Yoy.  Coq.  Zool.  2,  p.  179,  pi.  30, 

fig.  L     Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Chsetod.,  tab.  13,  fig.  2. 
South  East  New  Guinea. 

306.  Ch^todon  ciTRiNELLUS.     Cuv.  and  Yal. 

Gunth.  Cat.  2,  p.  33.  Jour.  Mus.  Godefi*.  Heft.  5.  p.  47,  pi.  35, 
fig.  B. 

South  East  New  Guinea. 

307.  CHiETODON  MELANOTUS.     Cuv.  and  Yal. 

Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Chsetod.,  tab.  14,  fig.  — ,  G.  Reinwardtii. 
Gunth.  Cat.  2,  p.  23. 

South  East  Coast. 

308.  Chjetodon  plebejus.     Cuv.  and  Yal 

Gunth.  Cat.  2,  p.  5.  Journ.  Mus.  Godeff*,  Heft.  5,  p.  35,  pi. 
32,  fig.  B.       South  East  Coast. 


BY  WILLIAM    MACLEAY,  F.L.S.,  &C.  263 

Ghcetodon  ephippiuyn,  Rafflesiiy  speculum^  unimacidatus^  baronessa 
and  lineolatum,  all  previously  recorded  from  Port  Moresby,  were 
also  taken  on  the  South  East  Coast. 

309.  Heniochus  macrolepidotus  L. 
Gunth.  Cat.  2,  p.  39.     Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Ch^etod.,  tab.  5,  fig.  1. 
"  Kino-kino  "  of  the  natives.     Hood  Bay. 

310.  Heniochus  chrysostomus.     Cuv.  and  Yal. 
Gunth.  Cat.  2,  p,  41.     Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Chjetod,,  tab.  4,  fig.  4. 
Hood  Bay. 

311.  Holacanthus  semicirculatus.     Cuv.  and  Yal. 
Gunth.  Cat.  2,  p.  53.      Less.  Yoy.  Coq.  Poiss.,  p.  173,  pi.  30, 
fig.  3.     Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Cheetod.,  tab.  8,  fig.  5. 
"  Tua-mari  "  of  the  natives.     Engineer  group. 

312.  Holacanthus  navarchus.     Cuv.  and  Yal. 
Gunth.  Cat.  2,  p.  49.     Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Chsetod.,  tab.  9.  fig.  3. 
South  Cape. 

313.  Holacanthus  diacanthus.     BL 
Gunth.  Cat.  2,  p.  48.     Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Ch^tod.,  tab.  6,  fig.  8. 
"  Umure  "  of  the  natives.     South  Cape. 

Specimens  of  Holacanthus  bicolor,  from  D'Entrecastreaux 
Group  ;  Scatophagus  argus  from  Normanby  Island,  and  Toxotes 
jaculatoT  from  Normanby  Island,  were  also  in  the  collection. 

MULLID^. 
314.  MuLLOiDES  flavolineatus.     Lacep. 
Gunth.  Cat.  1,  p.  403.      Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Mull.,  tab.  4,  fig.  3. 
"  Duru-apata  "  of  the  natives.     Hood  Bay. 

315.  Upeneus  semifasciatus.     n.  sp. 

D.  8/9.     A.  7.     L.  lat.  31.     L.  tr.  21/61 

The  height  of  the  body  is  about  one-third  of  the  total  length,  the 
length  of  the  head  a  little  less  ;  the  profile  is  very  convex,  the  space 
between  the  eyes  quite  two  diameters  of  the  orbit  in  width,  and 
the  distance  between  the  eye  and  the  snout,  two  diameters  and 


264  THE    FISHES    OF    NEW   GUINEA, 

a-half  ;  the  moutli  is  small,  the  lips  thick,  the  maxillary  broad,  and 
not  reaching  to  the  level  of  the  eye  ;  a  flat  acute  opercular  spine  ;  the 
longest  dorsal  spine,  rather  more  than  half  the  height  of  the  body  ; 
caudal  fin  emarginate.  Colour  red  or  yellow,  with  two  broad 
brown  bands  extending  from  the  back  to  below  the  middle  of  the 
sides,  under  the  spinous  and  soft  dorsal  fins  respectively. 
"  Igomar  "  of  the  natives.     Hood  Bay. 

316.  Upeneus  filamentosus.     n.  sp. 

D.  8/9.     A.  7.     L.  lat.  28.     L.  tr.  2/5. 

Height  of  body  one-fourth  of  the  total  length  ;  length  of  head 
greater  than  the  height  of  the  body,  profile  straight,  space  between 
the  eyes  a  little  convex,  and  as  wide  as  two  diameters  of  the  orbit. 
Snout  long  and  rather  pointed,  the  distance  from  the  eye  to  the 
snout  being  equal  to  four  diameters  of  the  orbit ;  the  mouth  is 
small ;  the  lips  thick ;  teeth  strong  and  blunt.  The  spinous  dorsal 
terminates  in  filaments,  the  third  spine  equals  the  height  of  the 
body.  Colour  pink,  with  yellow  and  blue  lines  about  head  and 
soft  dorsal.     Length,  9  inches. 

"  Mara-aga  of  the  natives.     Hood  Bay. 

Upeneus  barherhioides,  multifasciatus,  and  tragida  were  also 
brought  from  Hood  Bay. 

SPARID^. 
317.  Lethrinus  h^matopterus.     Bleek. 

Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Perc,  p.  112,  tab.  57,  fig.  4. 

*'  Carri-carri  "  of  the  natives.     Engineer  group. 

Specimens  of  Lethrinus  lentjanus,  and  ornatus  were  also  got. 

318.  Pemilepterus  waigiensis.     Quoy  and  Gaim. 
Gunth.  Cat.  1,  p.  498.     Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Cheetod.,  tab.  2,  fig.  2. 
*'  Saborre  "  of  the  natives.     Engineer  group. 

319,  Sph^rodon  grandoculis.     Forsk. 
Gunth.   Cat.   1   p.   465.     Bleek.  All.   Ichth.  Perc.   p.  105,  tab. 
21,  fig.  1. 

"  Mattabossi  "  of  the  natives.     Engineer  Group. 


by  william  macleay,  f.l.s.,  &c.  265 

320.  Chrysophrys  hasta.      B1. 
Gunth.  Cat.  1  p.  490.     Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Perc.  p.   I  OS,  tab.  67, 
fig.  3. 

"  Dubu  "  of  the  natives.     Gulf  of  Papua. 

CIRRHITID^. 

321.  CiRiiHiTES  ARCATUS.     Cuv.  and  Val. 

Gunth.  Cat.  2,  p.  72.      Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Perc.  p.  144,  tab.  25, 
fig.  3. 

South  East  Coast. 

SCORP^NID^. 

322.  ScoRP^NA  ciRRHosA.     Cuv.  and  Yal. 
Gunth.  Cat.  2  p.  120.     Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Scorp.  tab.  3  fig.  6. 
South  East  Coast. 

323.  ScoRP^NA  DiABOLUS       Cuv.  and  Yal. 

Gunth.  Cat.  2,  p.  117.       Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Scorp.  tab.  1,  fig.  5. 
"  Pacura  "  of  the  natives.     Hood  Bay. 

TEUTHIDID^. 

Of  this  family,  one  species  T.    vermiculata   was  taken  in  fresh 
water  on  Normanby  Island. 

BERYCID^. 

324.  Myripristis    microphthalmus.     Bleek. 
Gunth.  Cat.  1  p.  24,     Bleek.  Alt.  Ichth.  Trachich.  tab.  4,  fig.  2. 
"  Kurulu  "  of  the  natives.     Hood  Bay, 

Of  this  Family  Myripristis  adustus  and  Holocentrum   sammara 
and  rubrum,  were  also  taken  in  Hood  Bay. 

KURTIDJE. 

325,  Pempheris  Otaitensis.     Cuv.  and  Yal. 
Gunth.  Cat.  2  p.  508.     Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Pempher.  tab.  1  fig.  4. 
"  Iga-iga  "  of  the  natives.     Hood  Bay. 

ACRONURID^. 

326.  AcANTHURUs  GLAucoPAREius.     Cuv.  and  Yal. 
Gunth.   Cat.   3  p.   339.     Jour.   Mus.   Godeff",  Heft.  9  p.  H.  4, 
PI.  71,  fig.  A. 

"  Wanaka  of  the  natives."     Hood  Bay. 


266  THE   FISHES    OF    NEW   GUINEA, 

327.  AcANTHURUS  DussuMiERi.       Cuv.  and  Yal. 

Gunth.  Cat.  3  p.  335.  Jour.  Mus.  Godeff.  Heft.  9,  p.  H.  2, 
PI.  72. 

"  Dabua"  of  the  natives.     Millf)ort  Harbour. 

Acanthurus  matoides,  lineatus,  hepatus^  and  olivaceus  were  also 
taken  in  the  vicinity  of  Hood  Bay.  Also  JVaseus  unicornis,  and 
Marginatus. 

CARANGID^. 

328.  Caranx  boofs.     Cuv.  and  Val. 
Gunth.  Cat.  2  p.  431. 
'^  Pogari  "  of  the  natives.      China  Straits. 

329.  PSETTUS    ARGENTEUS.       L. 

Gunth.  Cat.  2  p.  487.  Richards.  Yoy.  Ereb.  and  Terr.  Fishes 
p.  57,  PI.  35,  fig.  1-3. 

"  Gemo  "  of  the  natives.     Normanby  Island. 

330.  Equula  edentula.     B1. 

Gunth.  Cat.  2  p.  498.  Kichards.  Yoy.  Ereb.  and  Terr.  Fishes 
p.  137,  pi  59,  fig   12-14 

"  Pya-Pya  "  of  the  natives.     Normanby  Island. 

SCOMBKID^. 
331.  Cybium  Commersonii.      Lacep. 
Gunth.  Cat.  2  p.  370.     Macl.  Proc.  Linn.  Soc.  N.  S.  Wales,  Yol. 
5,  p.  558. 

Hood  Bay.      Caught  on  trolling  line. 

Specimens  of  Scomber  loo  were  got  in  Pitt  Bay,  Moresby 
Island. 

332.  Echeneis  Nauc rates.     L. 

Gunth.  Cat.   2,  p.   384.      Macl.  Proc.   Linn.   Soc.  N.  S.  Wales, 
Yol.  5,  p.  561. 
Hood  Bay. 

MALACANTHID^. 

A  specimen  of  Malacanthus  latovittatus  said  to  be  from  fresh 
water.     Goldie  Biver. 


BY  WILLIAM    MACLEAY,  F.L.S.,  &C.  267 

BATRACHID^. 

333.  Batrachus  dubius      White. 
Gunth.  Cat.  3  p.  169.     Richards.  Voy.    Ereb.   and  Terr.  Fishes 
p.  16,  PI.  10, 

South  East  Coast.  Apparently  identical  with  the  Australian 
species. 

COTTINA. 

Young  specimens  of  Platycephalus  Quoyi  from  several  places. 

GOBIID^. 

334,  GoBius  ORNATus.     Riipp. 
Gunth.  Cat.  3  p.  21.     G.  interstinctus  Richards.  Voy.  Ereb.  and 
Terr.  p.  3,  PL,  5  figs.  3-6. 

"  Sumato  "  of  the  natives.     Milne  Bay. 

335,  GOBIUS   MACULIPINNIS.        n.    sp. 

D.  7/11.     A    10.     L.  lat.  26. 

The  height  of  the  body  is  one  sixth  of  the  total  length,  and  is 
about  equal  to  the  length  of  the  head  ;  the  snout  is  convex  and 
obtuse  ;  the  eyes  are  near  the  top  of  the  head,  and  less  than  half 
their  diameter  apart ;  the  space  between  the  eye  and  the  snout  is 
equal  to  one  and  a-half  diameter  of  the  orbit.  The  mouth  is  small, 
the  cheek  is  scaley  with  two  impressed  lines  running  from  the 
maxillary  backwards  for  some  distance ;  the  scales  are  a  little 
pointed  at  the  free  end,  with  lines  radiating  backwards  ;  the  fin- 
rays  all  more  or  less  terminate  in  filaments,  the  second  dorsal  spine 
very  elongate,  the  caudal  is  long  and  pointed.  The  colour  seems 
to  have  been  greenish  yellow,  with  bluish  spots ;  the  fins  are  all 
spotted  brown  and  white,  excepting  the  ventrals  and  anal,  which 
are  tinged  with  black. 

Normanby  Island,     Fresh  water. 

336.  GOBIUS   CIRCUMSPECTUS.      n.    sp. 

.D.  7/10.     A.  9.     L.  lat.  30. 

Height  of  body  one-sixth  and  length  of  head  one-fourth  of  the 
total  length.  Head  rather  flat,  terminating  in  a  rounded  muzzle, 
the  lower  jaw  broader  and  longer  than  the  upper  ;  the  eyes  are  close 


268  THE    FISHES    OF   NEW   GUINEA, 

together  (about  a  third  of  their  diameter  apart)  and  situated  on  the 
top  of  the  head ;  the  teeth  are  numerous,  the  outer  series  very 
acute  ;  the  cheek  is  naked,  a  few  scales  on  the  upper  part  of  the 
operculum.  The  second  dorsal  spine  is  long,  terminating  in  a 
filament,  the  caudal  is  rounded  behind.  Colour  greenish-yellow, 
with  indistinct  darker  markings,  a  large  ill-defined  brown  spot  on 
the  root  of  the  tail,  the  dorsal  and  caudal  fins  brown  spotted. 
Milne  Bay.     Fresh  water. 

336.  Apocryptes  fasciatus.     n.  sp. 

D.  6/15.     A.  15.     L.  lat.  56. 

Of  compressed  form  ;  the  height  of  the  body  and  length  of  the 
head  are  about  one-fourth  of  the  total  length.  The  head  is 
less  compressed  than  the  body,  convex  between  the  eyes  and 
rounded  on  the  snout ;  the  eyes  are  moderate,  less  than  a 
diameter  apart,  and  about  a  diameter  from  the  snout ;  there  is  a 
strong  bony  elevation  on  the  front  orbital  margins  ;  the  mouth  is 
oblique,  the  gape  extending  to  below  the  middle  of  the  eye,  the 
cheek  is  naked  or  nearly  so.  The  dorsal  spines  are  filamentose,  the 
connecting  membrane  not  nearly  extending  to  the  middle  ;  caudal 
rounded.  Colour  dark  with  six  broad  darker  fasciae  on  the  sides  ; 
soft  dorsal  and  anal  with  small  blue  or  light  coloured  dots. 

338.  Eleotris  immaculatis.     n.   sp. 

D.  6/10.     A.  9.     L.  lat.  63. 

Form  depressed  in  front,  compressed  towards  the  tail ;  height 
one-fourth  of  the  total  length  without  the  caudal  fin.  Length  of 
head  one-third  of  the  total  length  with  the  caudal  fin.  Back  from 
the  dorsal  fin  to  the  snout  very  broad  and  nearly  flat,  becoming 
somewhat  concave  between  the  eyes,  which  are  quite  4|-  diameters 
apart ;  the  snout  is  broad  and  rounded,  and  without  scales,  the 
lower  jaw  considerably  exceeding  the  upper,  the  cleft  of  the  mouth 
extends  to  the  vertical  from  the  posterior  margin  of  the  eye.  The 
caudal  fin  is  rounded.  The  colour  (in  spirits)  is  of  a  dull  uniform 
brown,  but  in  life  probably  each  scale  had  a  pearly  lustre.  A 
large  heavy  fish  18  inches  long. 

Keremma  Biver.     Gulf  of  Papua. 


BY  WILLIAM    MACLEAY,  F.L.S.,  &C.  269 

339.  Eleotris  ophiocephalus.     Cuv.  and  Yal. 
Gunth.  Cat.  3,  p.  107.     Journ.   Mas.   GodefF.   Heft.   13,  p.  185, 
PI.  112,  fig.  A. 

"  Wenemu  "  of  the  natives.     Normanby  Island.      Fresh  water, 

340,  Aristeus  Goldiei.      n.  sp. 

D.  1/5,  1/13.     A.  l/,22.     L.lat.  34. 

In  stature  like  A  rufescens,  and  indeed  resembling  that  species 
in  everything  excepting  colour  and  the  number  of  fin  rays.  The 
colour  in  this  species  is  silvery  all  over,  but  darker  towards  the 
back,  a  broad  black  line  extends  from  the  snout,  under  and  above 
the  eye  to  the  tail. 

This  fish  was  got  in  abundance  in  the  Goldie  River ;  the  largest 
specimens  were  under  4  inches  in  length. 

BLENNIID^. 

341.  Blennius  periophthalmoides.     n.  sp. 

D.  12/16.     A.  18.     Y.  2. 

Body  much  compressed,  its  height  about  one-sixth  of  the  total 
length.  Head  as  high  as  long,  and  broader  than  the  length,  quite 
round  in  front,  and  with  two  very  prominent  eyes  nearly  together 
on  the  top  of  the  head.  Mouth  terminal,  extending  to  below  the 
middle  of  the  eye.  Gill  membranes  entirely  united  below.  Pectoral 
fins  strong,  of  14  simple  rays;  dorsal  distinctly  notched;  caudal 
rounded.  All  the  fins  seem  to  have  been  marked  with  alternate 
brown  and  white  bars,  giving  them  a  spotted  appearance,  according 
to  Mr.  Goldie  the  body  was  of  an  inky-drab-colour. 

"  Pici  "  of  the  natives.     Dufaure  Island. 

SPHYRAENID^. 
Sphyrcena  Forsteri,  previously  recorded.     Hood  Bay. 
MUGILID^. 
342,  Mugil  compressus.     Gunth. 
Gunth.  Cat.  3,   p.    451.     Macl.   Proc.    Linn.   Soc.   N.  S.  Wales, 
Yol.  4,  p.  421. 

Normanby  Island.     Fresh  water. 


270 


THE   FISHES    OF   NEW    GUINEA, 
343.    MUGIL   PAPILLOSUS.      n.    sp. 


D.  4.  1/7.     A.  3/9.     L.  lat.  38. 

The  height  of  the  body  is  one-fourth  of  the  total  length  ;  the 
head  is  depressed,  the  body  compressed,  and  the  back  rather  more 
convex  than  the  belly.  The  eyes  are  large,  near  the  snout,  nearly 
two  diameters  apart,  and  without  adipose  membrane.  The  snout 
is  rounded  in  front  and  above.  The  upper  lip  is  thick  in  the 
middle  where  it  fits  into  a  broad  emargination  of  the  head,  and 
has  along  its  lower  edge  a  groove  filled  with  verrucose  papillse  as 
shown  in  the  accompanying  woodcut.  The  lower  jaw  is  very 
obtusely  angled  at  the  symphysis,  but  is  acutely  angled  at  the 
sides ;  no  open  space  on  the  chin.  The  first  spine  of  the  anal  fin 
is  very  short ;  the  caudal  is  emarginate.  Colour  silvery,  darker 
along  the  back  ;  a  black  spot  above  the  root  of  the  pectoral  fin. 
"■  ^^J'yiari  "  of  the  natives. 

Normanby  Island.       Fresh  water. 

344.  Aeschrichthys  Goldiei.     Macleay. 
Proc.  Linn.  Soc.  N.  S.  Wales,  vol.  8,  p.  2. 
Goldie  E-iver.     Fresh  water. 

FIST  UL  ARID  JE. 

345.    FiSTULARIA    SERRATA.       Cur. 

Gunth.  Cat.  3,  p.  533.  Macl.  Cat.,  Proc.  Linn.  Soc,  K  S. 
Wales,  vol.  6,  p.  49.       Hood  Bay. 


BY  WILLIAM    MACLEAY,  F.L.S.,  ifec.  271 

CENTRISCID.^. 

346.  Amphisile  strigata. 
Gimth.  Cat.  3,  p.  528. 
South  East  Coast. 

POMACENTRII)^. 

347.  Amphiprion  melanopus.     Bleek. 
Giintli.  Cat.  4,  p.  8.     Bleek.  Atl   Ichth.  Pomac,  tab.  2,  fig.  7. 
D'Entrecastreaux  Group. 

348.  Amphiprion  Papuensis.     n.  sp. 

D.  10/14.     A.  2/12.     L.  lat.  50. 

The  height  of  the  body  is  one-half  of  the  length  including  the 
caudal  fin.  The  colour  is  black,  the  muzzle  and  breast,  as  far 
as  the  root  of  the  ventrals  are  yellowish,  the  soft  dorsal,  tail  and 
caudal  fin  are  white,  and  there  are  two  broad  cross  bands,  as  in  A. 
hicinctus,  one  from  the  nape  to  the  edge  of  the  sub-operculum,  the 
other  across  the  body,  from  the  back  part  of  the  spinous  dorsal  to 
the  vent. 

"  Becua  "  of  the  natives.     D'Entrecastreaux  Group. , 

349.  Gliphidodon  nigrifrons.      n.  sp. 

D.  13/11.      A.  2/11.     L.  lat.  26. 

Height  of  body  more  than  half  the  total  length  including  the 
caudal  fin,  head  very  round  in  front  and  rather  flat  between  the 
eyes,  the  space  between  them  being  equal  to  nearly  two  diameters 
of  the  orbit.  The  snout  is  shorter  than  the  diameter  of  the  eye  ; 
the  mouth  is  very  small.  The  second  anal  spine  is  large  and 
strong.  The  colour  seems  to  have  been  an  uniform  silvery -greenish, 
with  darker  marks  on  the  scales  of  the  upper  and  anterior  portions 
of  the  body ;  the  forehead  is  black. 

South  East  Coast. 

350.  Gliphidodon  bimaculatus.     n.  sp. 
D.  12/11.     A.  2/12.     L.  lat.  26. 

Height  of  body  half  the  total  length.  Eyes  large,  close  to  the 
snout,  and  about  a  diameter  apart.       Mouth  very  small.     Colour 


272  THE   FISHES    OP   NEW    GUINEA, 

silvery-gray,  a  black  spot  above  and  below  the  root  of  the  tail, 
extremities  of  dorsal   and  anal  fins,  blackish.     Length,   Ij  inch. 

South  East  Coast. 

Premnas  hiaculeatus  and  Pomacentrus  prosopotcenia,  were  also 
taken  in  Hood  Bay. 

LABRID^. 

351.  Labroides   paradiseus.     Bleek. 
Atl.  Ichth.  Labr.,  tab.  44,  fig.  2.     Gunth.  Cat.  4,  p.  119, 
South  East  Coast. 

352.  DuYMERiA  nematoptera.     Bleek. 
Atl.  Ichth.  Labr.,  p.  70.  tab.  23,  fig.  5.     Gunth.  Cat.  4,  p.  123. 
South  East  Coast. 

353.  CiRRHiLABRUS  soLORENSis.     Bleek. 
Atl.  Ichth.  Labr.,  p.  76,  tab.  23,  fig.  3.     Gunth.  Cat.  4,  p.  124. 
Pitt  Bay. 

354.  Anampses  c^ruleopunctatus.     Rupp. 
Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Labr.,  p.  104,  tab.  24,  fig.  2.      Gunth.  Cat. 
4,  p.  135. 

"  Aviko  "  of  the  natives.     Hood  Bay. 

355.  Anampses  pterophthalmus.     Bleek. 
Atl.  Ichth.  Labr.,  p.  102,  tab.  24,  fig.  3.     Gunth.  Cat.  4,  p.  138. 
"  Yessuma  "  of  the  natives.     Engineer  group. 

356.  Stethojulis  trilineata.     B1. 
Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Labr.,  p.  131,  tab.  43,  fig.  3.     Gunth.  Cat.  4, 
p.  140. 

Millport  Harbour. 

357.  Stethojulis  phekadopleura.     Bleek, 
Atl.  Ichth.  Labr.,  p.  134,  tab.  43,  fig.  5.    Gunth.  Cat.  4,  p.  143. 
South  Cape. 


BY  WILLIAM    MACLEAY,  F.L.S.,  &C.  273 

358.  Stethojulis  axillaris.     Quoy.  and  Gaim. 

Bleek.  Atl.  Iclith.  Labr.,  p.  136,  tab,  44,  fig.  7.     Gunth.  Cat.  4, 
p.  142. 
Pitt  Bay. 

359.  Stethojulis.  albovittata.      Lacep. 

Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Labr.,  p.  132,  tab.  44,  fig.  5.     Gunth.  Cat.  4, 
p.  141. 

South  East  Coast. 

360.  Stethojulis  strigiventer.     Benn. 

Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Labr.,  p.  135,  tab.  43,  fig.  1.     Gunth.  Cat.  4, 
p.  140. 

South  East  Coast. 

361.  Stethojulis  kalosoma.     Bleek. 
Atl.  Ichth.  Labr.,  p.  134,  tab.  43,  fig.  4.     Gunth.  Cat.  4,  p.  142. 
South  East  Coast. 

362.     Platyglossus    Hcevenii.     Bleek. 
Atl.  Ichth.  Labr.,  p.  Ill,  tab.  42,  fig.  3.     Gunth.  Cat.  4,  p.  153. 
Hood  Bay. 

363.  Platyglossus  trimaculatus.     Quoy  and  Gaim. 

Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Labr.,  p.  138,  tab.  32,  fig.  1.     Gunth.  Cat.  4, 
p.  153. 

Hood  Bay. 

364.  Platyglossus  modestus.     Bleek. 
Atl.  Ichth  Labr.,  p.  126,  tab.  35,  fig.  2.     Gunth.  Cat.  4,  p.  157. 
Engineer  Group. 

365.  Platyglossus  pcecilus.     Richards. 

Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Labr.,  p.  115,  tab.  39,  fig.  4.     Gunth.  Cat.  4, 
p.  152. 

Engineer  Group. 


274  THE    FISHES    OF    NEW    GUINEA, 

366.  Platyglossus  melanurus.     Bleek. 
Atl.  IchtL.  Labr.,  p.  109,  tab.  46,  fig.  1.     Gunth.  Cat.  4,  p.  148. 
South  Cape, 

367,  Platyglossus  Geoffboyi.      Quoj.  and  Gaiiii. 

Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Labr.,  p.  129,  tab.  37,  fig.  5.  Gimth.  Cat.  4, 
p.  145. 

Hood  Bay. 

368.  Platyglossus  guttatus.     B1. 

Bleek.  Atl.  Ichtb.  Labr.,  p.  124,  tab.  35,  fig.  1.  Gimtli.  Cat.  4, 
p.  155. 

369.  Platyglossus  margaritaceus.     n.  sp. 

D.  7/11.     A.  2/11.     L.  lat.  25. 

Of  compressed  form.  The  height  of  the  body  rather  more  than 
one-fourth  of  the  total  length ;  snout  pointed,  teeth  prominent. 
Eyes  small ;  tail  truncate.  Colour  (in  spirits) yellowish,  darker  on  the 
top  of  the  head,  with  a  broad  pearly  stripe  more  or  less  edged  with 
black,  extending  from  the  operculum  to,  or  nearly  to,  the  tail,  there 
seems  to  have  been  also  a  large  oval  pearly  spot  on  the  operculum. 
The  fins  are  yellow,  with  a  small  black  spot  on  the  first  dorsal 
spine,  the  last  anal  ray,  and  on  the  middle  of  the  uppermost  and 
lowest  caudal  rays.     Hood  Bay. 

370.   NOVACULA  macrolepidota.      B1. 
Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Lab.,  tab.  31,  fig.  6.      Gunth.  Cat.  4,  p,  174. 
Hula,  Hood  Bay. 

371.  NoVACULA  pentadactyla.     L. 
Bleek.  Atl.  Ichtb.  Labr.,  tab.  30,  fig.  4.     Gunth.  Cat.  4,  p.  177. 
Hood  Bay. 

372.  JuLis  DoRSALis.     Quoy.  and  GaiuL 

Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Labr.  p.   94,   tab.    34,   fig.    4.     Gunth.    Cat. 
4,  p.  190. 

Engineer  Group. 


BY  WILLIAM    MACLEAY,  F.L.S.,  &C.  275 

373.  JuLis  JANSENii.     Bleek. 
Atl.  Ichth.  Labr.  p.  91,  tab.    34,  fig.   5.     Gunth.  Cat.  4,  p.  187. 
Engineer  Group. 

374.    JuLis    GuNTHERi.     Bleek. 
Alt.  Icbth.  Labr.  p.  94,  tab.  34,  fig.  1.     Gunth.  Cat.  4,  p.  189. 
Engineer  Group. 

375.  GoMPHOSUS  TRICOLOR.      Quoy  and  Gaim. 
Bleek,  Atl.  Ichth,   Labr.  p.    85,  tab.    21,  fig  6.     Gunth.    Cat. 
4,  p,  193. 

Pitt  Bay,  Moresby  Island. 

376.  GoMPHOSUs  vARius.     Lacep. 
Gunth.  Cat,  4,  p.  193. 
Hula,  Hood  Bay, 

377.  CORIS  VARIEGATA.       Eiipp. 

Bleek.  Alt.  Ichth.  Labr.  p.    106,  tab.  36,  fig.   4.      Gunth.   Cat. 
4  p.  198. 
Pitt  Bay. 

378.  CoRis  PAPUENSis.     n.  sp. 

D.  9/14.     A.  2/11.      L.  lat.  52. 

Of  compressed  form.  The  height  of  the  body  is  one-fourth  of 
the  total  length,  and  about  equal  to  the  length  of  the  head.  Snout 
long  and  pointed ;  eyes  very  small  ;  caudal  fin  truncate.  Colour 
(in  spirits)  pale  yellow,  with  three  or  four  or  more  indistinct  dark 
cross  bands  from  the  back  towards  the  belly,  and  with  a  small 
bright  pearly  spot  on  every  scale  on  ventral  half  of  the  body.  On 
the  head  are  three  black  spots  one  before  the  eye,  another  behind 
and  the  third  behind  that,  probably  forming  a  black  streak,  in 
the  fresh  specimens.  The  fins  are  colourless,  there  is  a  minute 
black  dot  on  the  membrane  between  the  first  and  second  dorsal 
spine,  a  still  more  minute  one  on  the  ninth  dorsal  ray,  and  a 
bright  ocellus  on  the  second. 

South  East  Coast. 


276  THE    FISHES    OF    NEW   GUINEA, 

379.  ScARiCTHYS  AURiTUS.     Cuv.  and  Yal. 
Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  p.  15,  tab.  1,  fig.  3.     Gimtli.  Cat.  4,  p.  213. 
Hula,  Hood  Bay. 

380.  Callyodon  Moluccensis.     Bleek. 
Gunth.  Cat.  4  p.   216.       Bleek.  Atl.    Ichth.  p.  12,  tab.  2,  fig.  1. 
"Peole"  of  the  natives.     Hood  Bay. 

381.  Callyodon  spinidens.     Quoy  and  Gaim. 
Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  p.  13  tab.  2,  fig.  2.     Guntb.  Cat.  4,  p.  2i5. 
Hula,  Hood  Bay. 

382.  PsEUDOscAEUs  pentazona.     Bleek. 

Atl.  Ichth.  p.  46,  tab.  11,  fig.  1.     Gunth.   Cat.  4,  p.  231. 

Species  of  Labrid^e  from  the  South  East  Coast,  previously 
recorded  from  other  parts  of  New  Guinea,  Cheilinus  radiatus, 
oxycejohalus,  and  fasciatus ;  Epihulus  insidiator ;  Hemigymnus 
fasciatus  aiid  melanopterus  ;  Julis  lunaris. 

PLEUEONECTID^. 

383.  Pseudorhombus  guttulatus.     n.  sp. 
D.  75.     A.  63. 

The  height  of  the  body  is  nearly  half  the  total  length.  The 
dorsal  fin  commences  in  front  of  the  eyes,  which  are  large,  almost 
in  the  same  plane,  and  separated  by  a  narrow  ridge.  Teeth  acute, 
sloping  backwards.  Colour  (in  spirits),  uniform  grey,  fins  lighter, 
the  whole  covered  with  minute  brown  dots.  Length,  4  inches. 
Hood  Bay. 

SILUBID^. 

384.  Plotosus  anguillaris.     B1. 

Gunth.  Cat.  5,  p.  24.  Arab.,  Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Silur.,  p.  98, 
tab.  95,  fig.  2. 

"  D^rewa  "  of  the  natives.     Hood  Bay. 


BY   WILLIAM    MACLEAY,  F.L.S.,  &C. 

385.  Arius  latirostris.     n.  sp. 

V 


277 


D.  1/7.     A.  U.     P.  1/9. 

The  height  of  the  body  is  one-fifth  of  the  total  length.  Head 
broad  and  depressed  in  front,  and  broadly  rounded  at  the  snout ; 
the  diameter  of  the  eye  is  one-sixth  of  the  width  of  the  interorbital 
space.  Teeth  in  the  upper  jaw  in  a  semicircular  band,  as  in  the 
wood  cut,  vomerine  and  palatine  teeth,  also  represented  in  the 
T 


278  THE    FISHES    OF   NEW    GUINEA, 

wood  cut,   in  square  masses  divided  by  a  line ;  top  of  head  and 
occiput  sculptured,  as  in  wood  cut.     The  barbels  are  shorter  than 
the  head,  pectoral  spine  as  high  as  the  dorsal.     Adipose  fin  shorter 
than  the  dorsal ;  caudal  strongly  forked.     Length,  20  inches. 
Goldie  River. 

SCOMBRESOCIDtE. 

386.  Exoc^Tus  ARCTicEPS.     Gunth. 
Cat.  6,  p.  289. 

South  East  Coast. 

CLTJPEID^. 

387.  DussuMiERA  ACUTA.     Cuv.  and  Yal. 
Gunth.  Cat.  7,  p.  466.     Cant.  Mai.  Fish.,  p.  286. 
"  Caru-Caru  "  of  the  natives.     Hood  Bay. 

388.   Megalops  cyppjnoides,     Brouss. 
Gunth,   Cat.    7,   p.    471,       M.    setijnnnis  Richards,  Ann.  Nat, 
Hist,  xi.,  p,  493. 

Goldie  River.     Fresh  water. 

Engraulis  encrasicholoides  and  Alhula  conorhynchus,  were  also 
taken  near  Hood  Bay. 

MUR^NIDJE, 

389.  Conger  marginatus.      Yalenc. 

Gunth.  Cat.  8,  p.  38.  G.  noordvicki.  Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Mur, 
p.  20,i;tab.  23,  fig.  2. 

"  Navia  "  of  the  natives.     Hood  Bay. 

390.  MuRiENE^ox  ciNEREUs.     Forsk. 

Gunth.  Cat.  8,  p.  46.  M.  hagio.  Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Mur., 
p.  24,  tab.  26,  fig.  2. 

"  Tya-Tya  "  of  the  natives.     Hood  Bay. 

391.    MURJENA    CANCELLATA.       Richards. 

Yoy.  Ereb.  and  Terr.,  p.  87,  pi.  46,  figs.  1-5.  Bleek.  Atl 
Ichth.  Mur.,  p.  93,  tab.  32,  fig.  3.  Syn.  M.  undulata,  Lacep. 
Gunth.  Cat.  8,  p.  110. 

"  Rupa-rupa  "  of  the  natives.     Hood  Bay. 


BY  AVILLIAM    MACLEAY,  F.L.S.,  &C.  279 

SYGJSTATHID^. 

392.  Gastbotokeus  biaculeatus.     B1. 
Gimth.  Cat.  8,  p.  194.     Cant.  Mai.  Fish.,  p.  387. 
South  East  Coast. 

393.  Hippocampus  guttulatus.     Cuv. 
Gunth.  Cat.  8,  jd.  202.      Many  synonyms. 

South  East  Coast. 

SCLERODERMI. 

394.  Balistes  papuensis.     n.  sp. 

D.   3.  1/26.     A.   25.     L.  lat.  26. 

Tail  with  JSve  rows  of  minutely  armed  scales  on  each  side  of  the 
tail,  the  longest  numbering  as  many  as  fourteen  indistinct  spines  ; 
scales  of  the  body  very  warty  and  rough.  A  patch  of  osseous 
plates  above  the  gill  opening,  No  groove  in  front  of  the  eye  ; 
soft  dorsal  and  anal  fins  with  rounded  profile ;  caudal  rounded ; 
ventral  spine  movable.  Colour  greenish  with  roundish  dark  spots 
scattered  over  the  sides  of  the  body,  one  or  two  darkish  cross 
bars  on  the  soft  dorsal  and  anal  fins,  and  three  on  the  caudal. 

"  Aremela  "  of  the  natives.     Hood  Bay. 

395.  MoNACANTHUS  PRIONURUS.     Bleek. 

Atl.  Ichth.  Y.  p.  138,  tab.  227,  fig.  1.     Gunth.  Cat.  8  p.  234. 
Hood  Bay. 

396.  MoNACANTHUS  SCRIPTUS.     Yalent. 

Gunth.  Cat.  8,  p.  252.  Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  V.  p.  141,  tab.  227, 
fig.  4. 

Hood  Bay. 

397.       MoNACANTHUS    MELANOCEPHALUS.       Bleek. 

Atl.  Ichth.  Y.  p.  127,  tab.  223,  fig.  1.     Gunth.  Cat.  8  p.  242. 
Engineer  Group. 

398.    MoNACANTHUS    MONOCEROS.       L. 

Gunt.  Cat.  8  p.  251.  Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Y.  p.  140,  tab.  226, 
fig.  2.     Hood  Bay. 

399.  OsTRACioN   Seb^.     Bleek, 
Atl.  Ichth.  Ostrac.  p.  41,  tab.  4  fig.  2.    Gunth.  Cat.  8  p.  261. 
"  Porroni  "  of  the  natives.     Engineer  Group. 


280  NOTES   AND    EXHIBITS. 

GYMNODO"tNrTES. 

400.  Tetrodon  valentini.     Yalent. 

Gunth.  Cat.  8,  p.  305.     Bleek,  Atl,  Ichth,  Gymnod.,  p.  80,  tab. 
4,  fig.  1. 
Hood  Bay, 

401.  Teteodon  laterna.     Richards, 

Yoy.   Sulph.  Zool.,   p.   124,  pi.  61,  fig.  8.     Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth. 
Gymnod.,  pi.  1,  fig.  3.     T.  hisindus,  Gunth.  Cat.  8,  p.  297. 

402.  Tetrodon  Bennettii.     Yalent. 

Gunth.  Oat.  8,  p.  301.     T^  ocellatus,  Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.  Gymnod., 

p.  80,  tab.  10,  fig.  5. 

Hood  Bay. 

403.  Tetrodon  scelaeattjs.     L. 

Gunth.    Cat.    8,    p.    276.     P.    argentine.    Bleek.    Atl.    Ichth. 
Gymnod,  p.  64,  tab.  6,  fig.  1. 
Hood  Bay. 

404.    DiODON    HYSTRIX.       L. 

Gunth.   Cat.   8,  p.   306.      Bleek.  Atl.  Ichth.    Gymnod.,  p.  50, 
tab.  3,  fig.  2. 
Hood  Bay. 

BATID^. 

405.  Ehinobattts  Thouini.     Mull.  &  Henle. 
Gunth.  Cat.  8,  p.  442.     Dum.  Elasm.,  p.  500,  pi.  9,  fig.  2. 
Hood  Bay. 


Notes  and  Exhibits. 

Mr.  Macleay  exhibited  a  cast  of  the  right  mandible  of 
Palorchestes  Azael^  the  fossil  which  was  the  subject  of  Mr.  De  Yis 
Paper. 

Dr,  Mackellar  exhibited  portions  of  the  liver  and  lungs  of  a 
sheep  ^vith  large  hydatid  cysts,  and  also  showed  under  the  micro- 
scope specimens  of  the  enclosed  embryos.  These  probably  belong 
to  a  Tapeworm  {Tcenia  echinococcus)^  the  proscolex  stage  of  which 


NOTES    AND    EXHIBITS.  28 i 

is  the  cause  of  hydatids  in  the  human  subject,  and  which  is 
developed  as  a  tapeworm  only  in  the  dog  ;  in  the  hydatid  stage 
these  are  probably  innocuous  to  the  human  subject,  but  further 
ex[)eriments  are  being  carried  out  with  a  view  of  throwing  addi- 
tional light  on  the  life-history  of  this  tapeworm. 

Professor  Stephens  exhibited  a  collection  of  fossils  from 
"  Sturt's  Stony  Desert,"  close  to  the  Grey  Ranges.  Among  them 
were  specimens  of  Ammonites  biflexuoides,  Belemnites  sp.,  besides 
other  moUusca,  all  found  at  a  depth  of  over  100  feet.  Also  a 
specimen  of  petrified  wood,  part  of  a  tree  met  with  in  sinking  a 
well  on  the  Dunlop  station,  50  miles  north  of  the  Darling,  at  300 
feet  below  the  surface ;  Dendrites  from  Wittabreena,  30  miles 
north  of  Mount  Brown ;  Gypsum  (selenite)  from  the  Grey 
Ranges,  where  high  clifis  of  this  substance  occur  ;  fossil  wood 
from  the  same  place ;  shell-breccia  from  the  district  between  the 
Paroo  and  Warrego,  found  at  a  very  great  depth,  &c.  He  also 
exhibited  a  rare  fungus  from  Spring  wood,  both  in  the  dry  state 
and  by  drawings.  It  was  regarded  by  Mr.  Tenison- Woods  as 
probably  a  species  of  Stereum.  Also  a  specimen  of  Opal  in  reni- 
foim  nodules,  obtained  by  Mr.  Gilliatt  from  a  well  in  the  Paroo 
district.  The  matrix  is  understood  to  have  been  clay,  presumably 
a  deposit  from  hot  springs. 

Mr.  Whitelegge  exhibited  a  living  and  vigorous  specimen  of 
Plumatella  obtained  in  the  Botany  swamps.  It  appeared  to  be 
identical  with  P.  repens^  Linn.  Also  dried  specimens  of  Nitella 
gelatinosa  from  Randwick,  one  of  the  Characese  which  had  not 
been  previously  recorded  from  this  district. 

Mr.  Asher  exhibited  a  "  holy  dollar  "  and  several  "  dumps,"  as 
an  interesting  illustration  of  the  early  history  of  the  colony,  and 
read  the  proclamation  of  Governor  Macquarie,  determining  their 
values  in  the  standard  currency. 

Mr.  Macleay  read  the  following  letter  from  Mr.  Meyrick 
relative  to  the  caterpillar  exhibited  by  him  (Mr.  Macleay)  at  the 
last  meeting : — 


282  NOTES    AND    EXHIBITS. 

"  Warwick  House,  Armagh  Street  West, 

"  Christchurcli,  N.Z.,  21st  May,  1883. 
"  Dear  Sir, 

"1  observed  in  the  Abstract  of  Proceedings  of  the 
last  meeting  of  the  Linnean  Society,  a  note  by  yourself  on  the 
injury  caused  to  cabbages  by  the  great  numbers  of  larvae  of  one  of 
the  Tineina,  and  thought  you  might  be  interested  to  know  the 
specific  name.  The  habits  of  the  larva,  and  your  mention  of  the 
lace-work  cocoon,  enable  me  to  say  for  certain  that  the  species  is 
Plutella  cruciferarum,  Zeller  (^family  Plutellidce)  which,  as  you 
rightly  conjecture,  is  an  importation  from  Europe.  It  occurs  now 
throughout  the  whole  world  from  Greenland  to  New  Zealand,  and 
is  apparently  abundant  everywhere,  liot  regarding  climate ;  it  is 
the  only  known  Lepidopterous  insect  of  which  this  can  be  said. 
It  swarms  in  many  parts  of  Australia,  especially  at  Adelaide.  It 
has  probably  been  imported  with  the  cabbage,  but  will  eat  almost 
any  Crudferce.  Its  numbers  are,  I  think,  principally  kept  down 
in  the  larval  state  by  small  birds.  The  moth,  though  small  and 
inconspicuous,  may  be  readily  recognised  by  unpractised  persons 
from  its  habit  of  projecting  its  antennae  forward  when  at  rest,  as 
the  Trichoptera  do. 

"  Believe  me, 

"  Yours  truly, 

"  Edward  Meyrick. 
"Hon.  William  Macleay,  M.L.C." 


i 


WEDNESDAY,  JUNE    27th,   1883. 


Professor  W.  J.  Stephens,  M.A.,  in  the  Chair. 


MEMBERS    ELECTED. 

Thomas  E/ichards,  Esq.,    Government  Printer. 
Patrick  Hayes,  Esq.,  The   Oaks,   Neutral   Bay. 
John  Laskey   Woolcock,  B.A..   Brisbane. 


DONATIONS. 

"Feuille  des  Jeunes  Naturalistes,"  Paris,  No.  151,  May,  1883. 
From  the  Editor. 

"  Bulletin  de  la  Societe  Imperiale  des  Naturalistes  de  Moscou." 
Tome  Ivii.,  No.  3,  1882.     From  the  Society. 

"  Yerslagen  en  Mededeelingen  der  Koninklijke  Akademie  van 
Wetenschappen  te  Amsterdam."  Deel.  xvii.,  8vo,  1882.  Also, 
"  Jaarboek  voor  1881."     From  the  Society. 

"  Catalogue  of  Books  added  to  the  Padcliffe  Library,  Oxford, 
during  the  year  1882."     From  the  Oxford  University  Museum. 

A  large  number  of  copies  of  Vols.  i.  to  iv.  of  the  "  Proceedings," 
presented  by  the  Hon.  W.   Macleay,  for  the  use  of  the  Societ 
also,  a  number  of  copies  of  "  Proceedings,"  Vols,  in.,  iv.,  v.  and  vi., 
presented  by  Professor  W.  J.  Stephens. 

"  Abhandlungen  herausgegeben  vom  naturwissenschaftlichen 
Vereine  zu  Bremen,"  vii.  Band,  1  Heft.,  mit  4  Tafeln.,  8vo,  1883- 


papers  read. 
Descriptions  of  New  Genera  and  Species  of  Australian 

Fishes. 
By  Charles  W.  De  Yis,  B.A. 

GiRELLA    CARBONARIA.       n.  Sp. 

D.  13/11.     A.  3/11.     L.   lat.  50.      I-.  transv.  8/18. 
Height  of  body  less  than  one-third,  and  head  less  than  one-fifth  of 
the  total  length  ;    diameter  of  orbit  one-fifth,  and  length  of  snout 
two-fifths  of  the  length  of  the  head.    Teeth  petaloid,  incurved,  edge 


284  NEW    GENERA   AND    SPECIES    OF    AUSTRALIAN    FISHES, 

entire,  slightly  arched,  in  several  imbricate  series.  Colour  (recent) 
dark  grey ;  edges  of  scales,  belly,  and  hinder  edge  of  the  anal  fin 
pale. 

Long,  15  inches. 

Loc.     Moreton  Bay.      Black  Bream  of  the  Market. 

GiRELLA   MENTALIS.        n.   Sp. 

D.  13/14.     A.  3/12.     L.  lat.  56.     L.  transv.  8/18. 

Height  of  body  three  times  and  one-third,  and  length  of  head 
five  times,  in  the  total  length ;  diameter  of  orbit  four  times  and 
one-third  in  the  length  of  the  head,  and  the  length  of  the  snout 
and  width  of  the  interorbital  space  twice  and  two-thirds  in  the  same  ; 
upper  third  of  opercle  scaly  ;  teeth  tricuspid,  a  .bare  space  between 
the  outer  and  inner  ones.  The  maxillary  subtends  the  posterior 
nostril ;  upper  and  lower  profile  equally  convex  ;  nape  slightly 
elevated  ;  caudal  deeply  emarginate.  Colour  (recent)  dark  purplish 
grey  with  several  obscure  vertical  bands,  cheeks  and  chin  yellow  ; 
pupil  black,  iris  silvery,  head  sinning  greenish  black,  separated 
from  the  scales  of  the  neck  by  a  yellowish  crescent. 

Long.  15/' 

Loc.     Moreton  Bay. 

New  genus  Dactylophora.  Fam.  Cirrhitidse. 
One  dorsal  fin  with  sixteen  spines.  One  of  the  simple  pectoral 
rays  elongate ;  anal  short ;  lower  teeth  in  a  single  series  ;  upper 
in  several  in  a  lunate  patch ;  cheeks  naked ;  preorbital  and 
preoperculum  entire ;  four  branchiostegals ;  scales  cycloid,  of 
moderate  size  ;  caudal  forked. 

D.    SEMIMACULATA. 

D.   16/24.     A.  3/10.     L.  lat.  52.     L.  transv.  4/11. 

Height  equal  to  length  of  head,  one -fourth  of  total  length;  circa- 
orbit four-and-a-half,  snout  three,  interorbitalspace nearly  four  times, 
in  the  length  of  the  head.  Five  simple  pectoral  rays,  the  uppermost 
free  for  one-sixth  of  its  length  and  reaching  the  origin  of  the  anal.  A 
curved  ascending  ridge  on  the  preoperculum;  lateral  eminences 
between  the  posterior  nasal  orifices.  First  dorsal  spine  the  shortest, 
spines  gradually  lengthening  to  sixth,  which  is  one- third  of  the 


BY    CHARLES    W.  DE    VIS,  B.A.  285 

height  of  the  body  and  equals  the  longest  dorsal  ray  ;  profile  of  the 
soft  dorsal  arched  ;  caudal  peduncle  long,  its  depth  one-third  of  the 
length  of  the  head  ;  caudal  broad,  moderately  forked.  Color  in 
spirit  yellowish  brown ;  tail  with  large,  black  spots,  and  the  lobes 
pale- tipped  ;  trunk  with  black  spots  passing  into  blotches  anteriorly 
and  sujDeriorly  ;  a  dark  line  from  the  eye  and  another  from  the 
preoperculum  across  the  operculum  ;  a  row  of  spots  along  the 
middle  of  the  soft  dorsal. 

Long.  9." 

South  Australia. 

Platycephalus    semermis. 

Dl.   7/12.     A.  11.     L.  lat.  50. 

Head  one- third  of  the  total  length,  its  breadth  two-fifths  of  its 
length  ;  orbit  two  and-half ,  interorbit  four  times  in  the  length  of  the 
snout ;  snout  two  and  three-fourths  in  the  head  ;  head  unarmed,  with 
low  irregular  ridges,  the  superciliary  forming  a  hook  before  the  orbit ; 
a'  short  spine  at  the  upper  angle  of  the  operculum  ;  two  preoper- 
cular  spines  sub-equal  in  length,  the  lower  much  the  broader  at  the 
base.  Brown  above  (in  spirits)  white  beneath,  the  colors  defined 
by  a  marbled  line  ;  a  broad  black  bar  across  the  head ;  anal  white 
spotted  with  brown  ;  the  other  fins  yellowish  brown  spotted  with 
blackish  brown. 

Long.  5." 

South  Australia. 

Polynemus  specularis. 

D.  7,  1/15-16.     A.  3/17-18.     L.  lat.  56. 

Height  of  body  equal  to  the  length  of  the  caudal  lobes,  and 
one-fourth  to  four-seventeenth  of  total  length  ;  head  one-fourth 
to  one-fifth  of  same  ;  orbit  three  and  a-half  in  the  head,  snout 
one-half  of  the  orbit.  Seven  pectoral  filaments,  the  upper  one  not 
quite  or  as  long  as  the  pectoral,  and  reaching  the  anus  ;  orbit 
covered  by  a  thick  semi-opaque  membrane.  Lateral  line  with  a 
short  arch  beneath  the  posterior  third  of  the  soft  dorsal  ;  preoper- 
culum entire  on  lower  limb,  with  some  serrations  at  the  angle 
and  a  notch  above  it;  soft  dorsal  fin  sub-falcate.      Colour  (recent) 


20b  NEW    GENERA   AND    SPECIES    OF   AUSTRALIAN    FISHES, 

golden  on  postabdomen,  back  and  head  ;  silvery  pink  on  abdomen, 
the  two  colours  being  sharply  defined ;  anal  and  caudal  fins 
greenish  yellow  ;  middle  or  whole  of  the  pectoral  densely  speckled 
with  black,  of  spinous  dorsal  less  or  not  at  all  so. 

Long.  9— 12.^' 

Log. — Brisbane  River. 

FAjM.   amblyopina. 

LeME.       new    GENUS. 

Body  elongate,  compressed ;  head  large,  oblong,  quadrilateral  ; 
cleft  of  the  mouth  directed  upwards ;  lower  jaw  prominent  ;  eyes 
nearly  hidden ;  chin  with  barbels  ;  teeth  strong,  protruding  on  the 
edge  of  the  jaws  ;  one  long  dorsal  fin  almost  continuous  with  caudal 
and  anal ;  all  the  fin  rays  simple,  flexible  ;  anterior  dorsal  rays  not 
separate  ,  ventrals  of  one  spine  and  five  rays  united  into  a  disk, 
thoracic  ;  pectorals  short.  Branchiostegalsfour.  Scales  rudimentaiy. 

L.    MORDAX. 

Fin  formula  doubtful,  the  investing  membrane  preventing 
satisfactory  enumeration.  Height  one-seventeenth,  head  one- 
eighteenth  of  the  total  length  ;  ventral  fin  two-thirds  of  the 
head ;  pectoral  one-fourth  of  the  same.  Dentition  I  strong 
canines  in  front — two  or  three  small  ones  on  each  side  above —  a 
small  one  alternately  with  the  large  ones  below  ;  behind  the  upper 
and  lower  canines,  a  band  of  viliform  teeth  ;  teeth  on  the  palate,  none 
on  the  vomer  ;  six  barbels  in  two  converging  rows  on  the  chin, 
with  one  intermediate  near  the  angle,  all  small.  The  dorsal  and 
anal  fins  are  separated  from  the  caudal  by  a  slight  notch.  There  are 
rudimentary  embedded  scales  on  the  hinder  part  of  the  trunk  and 
on  half  of  the  caudal,  Yentral  disk  pointed,  and  placed  on  a 
stout  pedicle.  The  dorsal  arises  between  the  operculum  and  the 
anal  papilla.  Caudal  moderate,  pointed.  Color  in  spirits,  uniform 
yellowish  brown. 

Long.  12/' 

Log. — Murray  River,  Queensland. 


i 


by  charles  w.  dp:  vis,  b.a.  287 

Sphyr^na  strenua. 

D.  5,  1/9,     A.  1/9.     L.  lat.  82  (?), 

Height  nine  and  a-half  in  the  length,  s.c.  ;  head  more  than  one- 
fourth  of  the  length  ;  orbit  and  interorbital  space  one-fifth  of  the 
head,  snout  (from  upper  lip)  half.  Maxillary  reaches  a  little  beyond 
the  vertical  from  the  nostril.  Mandible  without  appendage.  The 
origin  of  the  spinous  dorsal  is  over  the  tip  of  the  pectoral  and 
middle  of  the  ventral.  Soft  dorsal  midway  between  the  spinous 
and  the  caudal — the  space  between  the  two  dorsals  is  seven  and 
three-fourths  in  the  total  length.  The  anal  commences  below  the 
anterior  third  of  the  soft  dorsal.  Body  silvery,  head  golden. 
Scales  very  deciduous. 

Long.  10." 

Loc, — More  ton  Bay. 

Trochocopus    sanguinolentus. 

D.  12/10.     A.  3/12.     L.  lat.  33.     L.  trans  v.  7/11. 

Height  three  and  one-third;  head  three  and  two-thirds  in  the  total 
length  ;  snout  two  and  a-half  in  the  head  ;  pectoral  more  than  two- 
thirds  of  the  head.  Scales  of  cheeks  in  six  series  below  the  eye, 
caudal  fin  rounded  medially  with  elongated  outer  rays ;  soft 
dorsal  and  anal  pointed ;  anterior  canines  \  laterals  small, 
enlarging  posteriorly,  forming  the  outer  row  of  a  broad  band  of 
tubercular  molars,  which  is  not  continued  distinctly  across  the 
symphysis  ;  posterior  canine  small.  Color  (recent),  crimson ;  on 
head,  opercles  and  base  of  pectoral,  numerous,  guttated  spots  of 
yellow  ;  eight  anterior  dorsal  spines  and  webs  jet  black  ;  scales  of 
posterior  part  of  trunk  with  a  faint  blue  median  streak. 

Long  16.'^ 

Log,     Hutchinson  Shoal,   Cape  Moreton,  in  deep  water, 

Labrichthys  dux. 

L.  lat,  25,     L.  transv.  3/9. 

Height  one-third  of  the  length,  s.c,  head  two-sevenths  of  same  ; 
snout  two  and  three-fourth,  orbit  five,  interorbit  four,  in  the  length 
of  tlie  head,  Aposterior  canine  ;  a  large,  flanked  by  a  smaller  canine 


288  NEW    GENERA   AND    SPECIES    OF    AUSTRALIAN    FISHES, 

in  each  jaw  on  each  side,  Four  series  of  scales  below  the  eye,  two 
behind  it,  the  front  one  large  ;  scales  of  opercle  large  ;  Tubules  of 
lateral  line  dichotomously  branched  on  the  loins,  simple  posteriorly  ; 
lower  profile  more  convex  than  the  upper.  Colour  (recent),  reddish 
olive,  with  several  indefinite  dark  cross  bars.  On  the  trunk  a 
number  of  rather  more  distinct  longitudinal  bands,  the  median 
three  radiating  from  the  orbit ;  cheek  and  lips  reddish  orange ; 
dorsal  fin  crimson,  a  deep  blue  spot  between  the  second  and  third 
spines ;  pectoral  pink,  a  small  deep  blue  spot  above  the  axilla. 

Long.  7/' 

Loc.     Moreton  Bay. 

Plagusia  notata, 

D. +C.+  A.  190.     V.  4. 

Height  less  than  three  and  a-half  in  the  total  length  ;  head  four 
and  one-fourth  in  the  same.  Rostral  reaching  somewhat  behind 
the  lower  eye.  Nostril  in  a  })apilla  about  one-eighth  of  an  inch  long. 
Three  lateral  lines  on  the  left  side,  communicating  with  each  other 
by  vertical  ones  upon  the  head  and  operculum.  Dorsal  fin  commenc- 
ing nearly  on  a  level  with  the  upper  eye  ;  on  the  left  side  a  long 
veined  papilla  with  an  orifice  (nasal  ?)  near  its  base.  Color  (recent) 
dark  brown,  becoming  ruddy  in  front  of  the  eyes.  The  ground 
color  is  broken  up  by  black  lines  enclosing  pale  angular  spots, 
whereof  congeries  of  four  or  five  of  larger  size  are  scattered  over 
the  body  pretty  closely,  their  interspaces  being  filled  wdth  the 
smaller  ones.  Fins  with  short  vermiculate  lines  and  small  spots  of 
white.     Left  side,  uniform  white. 

Long.  11/' 

Loc. — Moreton  Bay. 

Synaptura  cinerea. 

D.  57.     C.  14.     A.  39.     Y.  4.     P.  4. 

Height  one-half,  and  head  one  sixteenth  of  the  total  length 
Pectoral  (right)  one-half,  snout  one-third,  and  interorbit  one-sixth 
of  the  length  of  the  head.  Ventrals  continuous  with,  but  somewhat 
removed  from  the  anal.  Dorsal  and  anal  in  similar  confluence  with 
the  caudal,  the  connecting  webs  notched.  No  ocular  tentacles. 
Barbels  fringing  lips  and   surrounding  nasal  tube,  which  is  not 


BY    CHARLES    W.  DE    VIS,  B.A.  289 

prolonged.  Left  pectoral  shorter  and  much  weaker  than  the  right. 
Upper  eye  in  advance  of  lower.  Scales  edged  with  10  (circa) 
spikelets.  Color  (recent)  grey,  blotched  with  black,  black  vertical 
bars  at  regular  intervals  on  the  dorsal  and  anal ;  left  side  white, 
with  a  purple  blush,  orange  spots,  and  the  fins  orange. 

Long. 

Log. — Moreton  Bay. 

Crossorhinus. 

Under  the  common  name  of  "  Tiger  Shark,"  two  fish  commonly 
associated  in  habitat,  seem  to  be  considered  by  Queensland  fisher- 
men as  varieties  of  one  and  the  same.  One  of  these  is  certainly 
Crossrhinus  harhatus,  and  the  other  does  not  appear  to  have  been 
as  yet  discriminated  by  ichthyology.  It  is  in  the  style  of  colouring, 
a  matter  too  much  neglected  in  describing  these  sharks,  allied  to 
G.  tentaculatus.  Pet.,  but  differs  from  that  species  as  characterised 
by  possessing  the  tentacular  fringe  of  harhatus.  It  is  a  much 
smaller  fish  than  harhatus,  never  apparently  exceeding  three  feet 
in  length,  whereas  six,  ten,  and  twelve  feet  are  attained  by  the 
latter. 

C.    ORNATUS. 

Tentacles  as  in  G.  harhatus.  Distance  between  the  dorsals  less 
than  the  length  of  either.  No  supraciliary  tubercles  ;  fifth  gill 
opening  nearly  twice  as  long  as  the  fourth.  Color  yellowish,  with 
broad  dark  cross,  bands,  the  hinder  ones  encircling  the  tail.  The 
two  dorsal  bands  have  deeply  fretted  edges,  and  enclose  pairs  of 
ocelli.  On  the  snout,  a  pair  of  dendritic  brown  markings.  On  the 
occiput,  a  symmetrical  brown  pattern,  and  between  each  of  the 
caudal  zones  is  a  black  spot. 

Log. — Moreton  Bay,  &c.        

Occasional  Notes   on  Plants   Indigenous    in    the  immediate 

neighbourhood  of  sydney.     no.  4. 

By  E.  Haviland. 

I  suppose  there  are  few  persons,  who,  ha.ving  rambled  about  the 

coast  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Sydney,  have  not  become  acquainted 

with  a  shrub  or  small  tree,  ranging  from  two  to  six  or  eight  feet 


290         NOTES  ON  PLANTS  INDIGENOUS  TO  SYDNEY, 

high  ;  and  beai  ing  a  profusion  of  white  flowers,  which,  at  a  distance 
have  the  appearance  of  almond  or  apple  blossoms.  It  is  the  large 
variety  of  Leptosijermuni  Jlavescens.  The  genus  Leptospermura 
belongs  to  Myrtacea ;  perhaps  our  most  valuable  order.  Dr. 
WooUs  has  enumerated  eight  species  indigenous  in  the  County  of 
Cumberland ;  but  the  genus  extends  from  Victoria  and  Tasmania 
on  the  south  to  Port  Denison  on  the  north.  In  the  immediate 
iieighbourhood  of  Sydney,  however,  I  have  most  frequently  met 
with  L.  flavescens  and  its  numerous  varieties,  and  L.  attenuatum. 
The  former  seeking  comparatively  dry  and  stony  localities,  while 
the  latter  rejoices  in  the  margins  of  creeks,  with  its  roots  almost  in 
water.  Like  the  Lobelias,  the  species  of  this  genus  are  exceed- 
ingly difficult  to  identify.  Bentham,  in  referring  to  this  difficulty, 
says,  "  The  whole  of  those  with  five  celled  ovaries,  different  as 
some  of  them  appear  at  first  sight,  pass  so  gradually,  the  one  into  the 
other,  that  they  might  readily  be  admitted  as  varieties  of  one 
species."  Of  L.  flavescens,  he  adds,  that  "It  is  scarcely  to  be 
distinguished  from  L.  lanigerum,  except  by  the  absence  of  hairs  or 
down,"  and  that  "  the  extreme  forms  of  either  one  or  the  other, 
are  so  dissimilar,  that  it  requires  the  examination  of  a  large 
number  of  specimens  to  believe  in  their  specific  identity.''  My 
attention  was  first  directed,  in  a  special  way,  to  this  genus,  by  the 
apparent  absence  in  many  otherwise  perfect  flowers,  of  the  style 
and  stigma,  especially  was  this  the  case  in  L.  attenuatum.  Knowing 
that  the  genus  was  neither  monoecious  or  dioecious  ;  I  was  certainly 
astonished  to  find  many  flowers  with  stamens  only,  until,  after  a 
more  careful  examination,  I  found  that  in  several  the  style  and 
stigma  had,  from  some  cause,  withered  as  soon  as  formed,  and 
appeared  only  as  a  small  black  spec  (as  though  scorched)  on  the 
top  of  the  ovary.  In  other  flowers,  although  the  stamens  and 
anthers  were  fully  formed  ;  the  stigma,  still  healthy,  was  but  a  mere 
speck  sessile  on  the  ovary.  The  stamens,  of  which  there  are  about 
thirty  in  each  flower  in  this  genus,  being  so  curved  inwards,  that 
the  anthers  were  immediately  over  the  stigma.  In  other  flowers,  I 
found  the  style  and  stigma  in  so  many  different  stages,  and  the 
relative  positions  of  the  stamens  and  pistils  so  diiFerent  as  they 


J 


BY    E.  HAVILAND.  291 

progressed  in  their  growth,  and  yet  these  differences  so  uniform, 
that  I  felt  satisfied  that  some  special  purpose  was  to  be  effected  by 
them.  Taking  therefore  the  larger  species,  L.  JlavescenSy  I  have 
examined  very  carefully,  and  without  removing  them  from  the 
plants,  a  great  number  of  flowers  ;  taking  notes  in  almost  ev^ery  in- 
stance for  comparison  with  each  other.  I  have  also  examined  a  great 
many  flowers  at  home  microscopically  ;  perhaps  therefore  I  cannot 
do  better  than  to  read  two  or  three  of  these  notes.  I  have  selected 
those  that  will  best  shew  the  progressive  stages  through  which  the 
organs  of  fertilisation  of  the  plant  pass.  As  in  these  notes  I  make 
use  of  the  word,  cup,  I  may  explain,  that  in  this  jg^enus,  the  calyx- 
tube  is  adnate  with  the  ovary,  but  rising  somewhat  above  it,  while 
the  top  of  the  ovary  is  itself  a  little  depressed,  a  hollow  cone  or 
cup  is  formed ;  round  the  edges  of  which,  but  on  the  margin  of 
the  disk,  the  stamens  are  arranged,  with  the  style  rising  from  the 
depression  in  its  centre.  I  may  also  say,  that  the  whole  of  my 
notes  could  be  arranged  in  groups  similar  to  that  I  now  read. 

Note  No.  1. — Stamens  all  perfect  and  bent  over  the  stigma, 
Anthers  not  yet  open.  Stigma  scarcely  formed;  being  a  mere  speck 
sessile  upon  the  ovary. 

No.  2. — Stamens  perfect.  Anthers  fully  developed  and 
apparently  ready  to  open  ;  all  bent  over  the  stigma.  Style  scarcely 
a  quarter  of  a  line  high.  Stigma  very  small,  not  the  tenth  of  a 
line  wide. 

No.  3. — Stamens  perfect  ',  bent  over  the  stigma.  Anthers  seem 
almost  bursting.  Style  half  a  line  high.  .Stigma  wider  than  in 
number  two,  but  far  from  maturity. 

No.  4. — Stamens  all  perfect,  but  much  more  erect  than  in 
number  three.  Anthers  open,  but  retaining  their  pollen.  Style 
a  line  hi<,;h.      Stigma  still  small  ;  but  becoming  somewhat  peltate. 

No.  T),  --  Stamens  perfect ;  all  erect  but  five,  which  are  still  bent 
over  the  stigma.  The  anthers  of  the  erect  stamens  oj^en  ;  those  of 
the  bent  ones  still  closed.  Style  one  and  a-half  lines  high. 
Stigma  broad  and  peltate,  but  not  mature.  Some  loose  pollen  in 
the  cup,  round  the  base  of  the  style. 


292         NOTES  ON  PLANTS  INDIGENOUS  TO  SYDNEY, 

No.  6. — The  stamens  perfect ;  all  quite  erect  but  three,  most  of 
those  erect,  open.  The  three  stamens  not  erect,  are  bent  down 
inside  the  cup,  so  that  the  anthers  are  below  the  stigma.  The 
anthers  of  these  are  also  open,  and  there  is  a  considerable  amount 
of  pollen  in  the  cup  ;  but  none  on  the  stigma.  Style  two  lines 
high.     Stigma  broad  and  peltate,  but  not  mature. 

No.  7. — Stamens  all  reflexed  but  two,  i.e.,  bent  outwardly  from 
the  flower ;  and  many  of  the  anthers  empty  ;  those  not  reflexed 
are  so  bent  down  that  the  anthers  are  below  the  stigma.  Style 
exceeding  two  lines  high.  Stigma  mature  and  viscid.  No  pollen 
either  in  cup  or  on  the  stigma. 

No.  8. — Stamens  all  reflexed,  most  of  them  withered  ;  those  still 
perfect  have  the  anthers  quite  open,  and  exposing  the  ripe  pollen. 
None  of  this  pollen  can  possibly  fall  on  the  stigma.  Still  there  is 
pollen  upon  the  stigma,  which  is  large,  mature  and  very  viscid. 

No.  9. — Stamens  all  reflexed,  most  of  them  spreading  out  across 
the  petals  and  away  from  the  centre  of  the  flower  ;  many  of  them 
withered.  Anthers  all  empty  but  one.  Style  three  lines  high. 
Stigma  broadly  peltate  and  very  viscid.  Some  pollen  in  the  cup, 
and  a  few  grains  on  the  stigma. 

In  addition  to  these,  I  found,  after  carefully  searching  another 
plant,  three  flowers  which  I  considered  required  careful  watching. 
In  one  of  them,  five  of  the  stamens  with  fully  ripe  pollen,  were 
bent  so  directly  over  the  stigma,  which  was  also  near  maturity,  as 
to  lead  me  to  expect  a  case  of  self-fertilization.  In  another  flower 
one  stamen  was  left,  not  only  not  reflexed  ;  but  with  the  anther 
burst  and  pressing  upon  the  fully  mature  and  viscid  stigma.  In  a 
third  flower,  seven  of  the  stamens,  with  the  anthers  fully  mature, 
but  not  open,  impended  directly  over  the  stigma,  which  was  mature 
and  viscid.  These  three  flowers  I  marked  A,  B  and  C,  by  my 
usual  plan  of  attaching  very  small  tin  labels  to  them.  In  A, 
having  five  stamens,  with  the  anthers  fully  mature,  bent  over  the 
nearly  mature  stigma  ;  I  found,  on  the  second  day,  that  two  of  the 
stamens  had  become  reflexed  j  and  were  hanging  with  others  over 
the  outside  of  the  flower.  The  remaining  three  were  bent  down 
inside  the  flower,  so  that  the  anthers  were  below  the  stigma  and 


BY    E.   H  AVI  LAND.  293 

could  not  fertilize  it.  B  was  in  much  the  same  state  as  on  the 
preceding  day  ;  the  single  stamen,  with  its  open  anther,  still 
pressing  on  the  stigma.  C,  in  which  the  seven  stamens  impended 
over  the  mature  stigma,  had  the  whole  of  these  stamens  reflexed, 
but  the  anthers  still  closed.  B,  therefore  was  the  only  one 
requiring  further  attention.  Three  days  afterwards,  I  re-examined 
this  flower  and  found  the  filament  of  the  stamen  withered  ;  the 
stigma  mature  and  bearing  pollen  from  the  anther  of  its  own  flower. 
This  pollen  could  not  easily  be  brushed  ofi".  A  proof,  I  think,  tha^ 
some  of  the  pollen  tubes  had  already  penetrated  the  stigma.  I 
took  this  flower  home,  and  with  a  microscope  power  of  300 
diameters,  could  distinctly  trace  the  pollen  tubes  for  some  little 
distance,  but  could  not  follow  them  into  the  ovary  ;  still  there 
can  be  no  doubt,  that  if  I  had  left  this  flower  on  the  plant,  it 
would  have  been  self-fertilized.  I  have  also,  as  I  have  already 
mentioned,  found  in  some  cases,  pollen  in  the  bottom  of  the  cup, 
at  the  base  of  style  ;  showing  that  occasionally  the  anthers  shed 
their  pollen  after  the  stamens  have  become  erect,  but  before  they 
are  reflexed  ;  and  as  I  have  sometimes  found  very  small  apterous 
insects  also  in  the  cup  amongst  this  pollen,  and  loaded  with  it ;  I 
have  no  doubt  that  it  is  occasionally  conveyed  by  them  to  the 
stigma  of  the  same  flower,  I  may  say  that  although  what  I  have 
written  refers  more  especially  to  L.  Jiavescens  and  L.  attenuutum, 
yet,  from  what  I  have  seen  of  the  other  species,  I  think  it  will 
equally  apply  to  the  whole  genus 

The  impression  made  upon  my  mind,  with  regard  to  this  genus, 
is,  that,  as  a  rule,  the  plant  must  be  cross-fertilised.  This  cross- 
fertilisation  being  brought  about  by  two  means.  First,  by  the 
diflerence  in  the  times  of  maturing  of  the  anthers  and  the  stigma, 
and  secondly,  by  the  change  in  their  relative  positions.  For  I 
think  that  these  notes  show,  that  even  after  the  stamens  and 
anthers  are  perfectly  formed,  the  stigma  is  very  far  from  maturity, 
often  indeed  but  a  mere  speck  upon  the  ovary.  That  as  the  style 
lengthens  and  the  stigma  takes  its  proper  hollow-peltate  form,  and 
becomes  mature  and  viscid  ;  so  the  anthers  avoid  it  by  the  stamens 
becoming  first  erect  and  then  reflexed  or  bent  quite  away  from  it. 
u 


294  SPECIES    OF    RECENT    POLYNESIAN    MOLLUSCA, 

Nevertheless,  as  occasionally  one  or  two  of  the  stamens  fail  to 
leave  their  first  position,  remaining  still  over  the  stigma  till  both 
it  and  the  anthers  are  mature  ;  and  especially  as  this  flower  seems 
to  be  the  favourite  resort  of  tiie  insects  I  have  alluded  to,  and 
which  may  carry  pollen  from  the  cup  to  the  stigma  ;  I  have  no 
doubt  that  self -fertilisation  occasionally  takes  place. 

In  concluding  this  paper,  I  should  like  to  add  a  word  of  caution, 
for  the  benefit  of  young  botanists  who  may  perchance  read  it ;  and 
who  may  feel  inclined  to  study  this  matter  of  fertilization.  Neither 
in  this  or  in  any  other  question  of  physiological  or  structural 
botany,  should  undue  reliance  be  placed  on  the  examination  of 
cultivated  plants ;  and  even  in  the  case  of  collected  wild  flowers, 
great  care  is  necessary  to  avoid  being  misled.  Most  plants  are 
more  or  less  altered  by  cultivation.  Petals  are  gained  by  the 
sacrifice  of  stamens  ;  and  varieties  are  produced,  which  in  a  great 
measure  destroy  typical  specific  forms.  I  need  only  refer  to  the 
vast  difference  between  the  wild  and  the  garden  rose.  The  first 
with  its  five  petals  and  numerous  stamens ;  the  second  with  its 
numerous  petals  and,  if  the  gardener  can  help  it,  no  stamens. 
With  regard  to  collected  wild  flowers  ;  of  course  they  must  be 
collected  for  microscopic  or  home  study ;  but  it  will  very  often  be 
found  that  those  whose  stamens  assume  any  one  position  relatively 
to  the  stigma  while  on  the  plant,  have  that  position  quite  changed, 
by  the  drying  and  contortion  of  the  filaments  very  soon  after  they 
are  collected.  It  is  on  that  account  that  I  have  been  careful  to 
study  the  Leptospermums  in  situ.  To  arrive  at  a  correct 
conclusion  of  any  matter  touching  the  physiology  and  habits  of 
plants,  they  must  be  studied  in  their  own  homes. 


Localities  of  some  species  of  1{Ecent  Polynesian    Mollusca 

By  J.  Brazier,   C.M.Z.S.,  &c. 

1,  Pirenopsis  costata. 

Melania  costata,    Quoy  and  Gaimard   (non   Reeve),  Voy.  de  1' 

Astr.  Zool.  Yol.  3,  p.   155,  pi.    bQ>,  fig.    34-37.       Melasma  costata, 

H.   &  A.  Adams,   Recent  Mollusca,    Vol.   2,  p.   302.       Chenu. 


BY   J.   BRAZIER,  C.M.Z.S.  295 

Manuel  de  Conch,  Vol.  I.,  p.  292,  fig.  2,000.  Melania  costata, 
Brot.  jNIateriaux  la  Famille  des  Melaniens  I.,  p.  47,  1862.  Pirena 
Lamarei,  Brot.  Mater.  III.,  }).  52,  pi.  2,  fig.  1-2.  Pirenopsis 
costata,  Brot.  in  Concli.  Cal).  Klister's  edition,  p.  408,  pi.  44,  fig. 
2  and  2  a.e.,  1874. 

Hah.  Vanikoro.  (Quoy),  Vate  or  Sandwich  Island,  New- 
Hebrides.   ( Young  and  King. ) 

Some  few  weeks  ago  I  received  from  Mr.  E.  L.  Layard,  British 
Consul  at  Noumea,  New  Caledonia,  a  number  of  shells  for 
identification.  In  the  lot  I  observed  one  typical  specimen  of  the 
Melania  costata  Quoy  and  G.,  and  two  specimens  of  the  shell 
described  and  figured  by  Dr.  A.  Brot  in  his  Materiaux  pour  servir 
a  I'etude  de  la  famille  des  Mehmiens  III.,  p.  52,  pi.  2,  fig.  1-2,  as 
Pirena  Lamarie.  I  quite  agree  with  Dr.  Brot  that  his  species  is 
only  a  mere  variety  of  costata,  Quoy.  One  of  Mr.  Layard's 
specimens  has  sharp  spiny  nodules  on  the  centre  of  the  last  whorl 
the  other  specimen  is  in  a  much  younger  state,  and  gives  the  shell 
the  aspect  of  a  Scalariawith  rather  bold  longitudinal  ribs;  the  last 
whorl  has  ten  ribs  sharply  spined,  spirally  ridged  below.  Vanikoro 
is  in  about  11^  40'  S.  Lat.     Vate  or  Sandwich  H"'  50'  S.  Lat. 

2.  Melania  acanthica. 

Melania  acanthica,  Lea.  Pro.  Zool.  Soc.  p.  194,  1850.  Hanley 
Conchological  Miscellany,  pi.  1,  fig.  8. 

Tiara  acanthica,  H.  &  A.  Ad.   recent  MoUusca,  Vol.  I,  p.  295. 

Mela7iia spinulosa,  Reeve  (non  Lam.),  Conch.  Icon.  Vol.  XIL, 
pi.  22,  fig.  156,  A.B.,  pitgilis,  Reeve  (non  Hinds),  B.C.     pi.  26,  f.  180^ 

Hab.  San  Christoval,  Florida,  Ysabel,  Solomon  Islands, 
(Brazier),  Vate  or  Sandwich  Island,  New  Hebrides.  (Young  and 
King.) 

This  species  is  not  very  common'  on  Vate.  The  few  that  I  have 
seen  from  Mr.  Layard  are  thickly  incrusted  with  oxide  of  iron  ;  it 
is  soon  removed  with  the  point  of  a  penknife.  In  the  Solomon's 
I  secured  specimens  quite  free  from  oxide.  Messrs.  Young  and 
King  also  found  Melaiiia  tuherculata,  Muller,  an  almost  universal 
species,     enjoying   about  fifteen    other  specific  names.     Melania 


296  NOTES    AND    EXHIBITS. 

Arthuri,  Brot  was  also  found,  a  species  also  common  to  New 
Caledonia  and  the  Loyalty  Islands.  It  is  the  M.  sioeciosa,  Morelet 
AL  Moreleti,  Reeve.  The  species  of  Neritinidse  also  found,  were 
N.  variegata,  Less.  N.  Souleyetana,  Recluz.  N.  corona,  Linn. 
N.  crejndidaria  Lam.  N'.  Roisyana,  Recluz,  this  is  also  the 
cuprina,  Recluz.  chrysocolla,  Gould  and  Navlgataria,    Reeve. 

Pythia  Argenville,  Pf.  It  is  very  common  in  Fitzroy  Island  on 
the  north-east  Coast  of  Australia. 

Reeve  in  his  Monograph  of  the  Melanidse  is  very  confusing  with 
some  of  the  species. 

Of  the  species  figured  on  plate  XXIII.,  fig.  164,  a. B.C.,  as  Melania 
lateritia,  Lea.  only  b.  and  c.  are  lateritia,  Lea.  164,  a.  is  Melania 
granifera,  Lam.  figure  165  a.  b  ,  on  the  same  plate  Reeve  considers 
to  be  only  lateritia,  Lea.  but  it  is  Melania  s])ectabilis,  Brot. 
figured  in  Kuster  second  ed.  of  Chem.  Conch.  Cab.  Evidently 
Reeve's  figure  166  is  another  species,  or  else  a  variety  of  M. 
spectabilis,  Brot. 

The  Melania  figured  by  Reeve  on  plate  VI.,  fig.  28-29  as  M. 
costata,  Quoy  is  J/,  hastida  Lea.  from  the  Philippine  and  Fiji 
Islands. 

On  plate  XXVIL,  fig.  186  a.  b..  are  Melania  setosa,  Swainson 
I  found  specimens  of  it  at  Wanga  Creek,  San  Christoval,  Solomon 
Islands,  figure  185  a.  b.  On  the  same  plate  are  Melania  setigera, 
Brot.  Cat.  of  recent  species  of  Melania,  p.  300.  Reeve  makes  it 
a  variety  of  Swainson's  species,  Ijut  they  are  totally  distinct  in 
character.     It  is  found  in  the  Philippine  Islands. 


NOTES    AND    EXHIBITS. 


Baron  Maclay  exhibited  some  beautifully  preserved  specimens 
of  very  delicate  forms  of  marine  life,  such  as  Oceania  pileata,  Salpa 
democratica,  Alcyonium  yalmatmn,  &c.,  &c.  These  were  prepared 
at  the  Naples  Biological  Stiition,  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  Dohru 


NOTES    AND    EXHIBITS.  297 

and  may  be  obtained  there  at  a  reasonable  cost,  for  study  or 
illustration.  Ev^en  large  specimens  of  Rhizostoma  are  perfectly 
and  permanently  preserved  by  this  process.  Baron  Maclay  also 
gave  an  account  of  various  large  animal  preparations  which  had 
been  preserved  in  the  Berlin  Museum  by  the  Wickersheimer 
fluid,  pointing  out  that  tlie  failures  which  had  attended  its  use  here, 
•were  due  to  too  protracted  immersion  in  the  fluid.  The  objects, 
when  once  well  penetrated  by  the  solution,  should  be  withdrawn 
and  kept  in  a  dry  state. 

Mr,  Whitelegge  exhibited  a  decayed  leaf  of  some  aquatic  plant 
covered  with  a  thick  growth  of  Plumatella  repens.  Also  a 
specimen  of  fresh  water  sponge,  undetermined.  Both  from  a 
waterhole  in  Moore  Park. 

Mr.  Trebeck  showed  the  claw  of  a  very  large  crab,  Pseudo- 
car  cinus  gigas,  which  had  been  washed  ashore  in  Lane  Cove.  This 
species  is  of  common  occurrence  in  Bass'  Straits,  but  is  seldom 
found  much  to  the  northward  of  that  district. 

Professor  Stephens  exhibited  for  the  Rev.  J.  M.  Curran,  some 
good  specimens  of  Sphenopteris,  Alethopteris  and  Merianopteris,  as 
described  by  the  Be  v.  J.  E.  Tenison- Woods  in  his  paper,  vol.  viii., 
pt.  1.  Also  of  Thinfeldia  odontopteroides,  and  a  photograph  of  the 
male  amentum  of  WaJckia  Mihieana,  all  from  Ballinore  near 
Dubbo.  Also  a  quantity  of  Coccus  infesting  a  species  of  Casuarina 
from  near  Warren. 

Professor  Stephens  exhibited,  for  Mr.  J.  Anderson,  of 
Newstead,  near  Inverell,  several  specimens  of  Leaves  and  fresh- 
water Molluscs  (Unio).  They  were  clearly  tertiary,  were,  though 
much  fractured  by  the  pick,  excellently  preserved,  and  probably 
all  capable  of  identification.  The  matrix  was  hardened  mud,  the 
detritus  of  basaltic  rock  mixed  with  much,  vegetable  debris,  and 
dotted  with  numerous  little  spheres  of  pisolitic  iron  ore.  The 
pool  in  which  this  mud  was  deposited  must  have  been  of  very 
still  water,  and  may  probably  have  been  formed  by  a  lava  stream 
damming  some  small  rivulet. 


298  NOTES    AND    EXHIBITS. 

Dr.  ;  Schuette  showed  a  plaster  cast  of  an  impression  which 
Mr.  De  Vis  had  previously  exhibited.  This  cast  was  therefore  a 
model  of  the  original  fossil,  and  was  regarded  by  Baron  Maclay, 
as  consisting  of  the  Occipital  and  Parietal  bones  of  a  gigantic 
Wombat,  seen  from  w  ithin. 

Mr.  Deane  exhibited  a  portion  of  sandstone  penetrated  by  a 
number  of  burrows,  formed  in  all  probability  by  some  Hymenop- 
terous  insect. 


r=255==^.§^ 


Linn.  Soc,  N.S.W.,  1883,  Plate  12. 


Fig,  1 


FiG.  2, 


Fig.  3. 


Fig.  5. 


Fig.  4. 


Fig.  6. 


Fig.  1.  Trigonia  mesembria. 

Fig.  2.  I)o.             do.        upper  surface. 

Fig.  3.  Do.             do.         anterior  end. 

Fig.  4.  Avkula  harUyi. 

Fig.  5.  Do.         do.       right  valve. 

Fig.  6.  Fragment  showing  ribs. 


WEDNESDAY,  JULY  25th,  1883.  v<^. 
Professor   W.  J.  Stephens,  M.A.,  in  the  chair. 


DONATIONS. 

"  Transactions  and  Proceedings  of  the  Eoyal  Society  of 
Victoria."     Yol.  XIY.,  8vo,  1883.     From  the  Society. 

"Science,"  American  illustrated  Journal,  Vol.  I.,  No.  14, 
May  11th,  1883.     From  the  Editor. 

"Journal  of  the  Royal  Microscopical  Society  of  London." 
April,  1883,     From  the  Society. 

"Bulletin  of  the  American  Museum  of  Natural  History,"  New 
York.  Vol.  I.,  No,  4,  May,  1883  ;  and  also  the  Fourteenth 
Annual  Report  of  the  Museum  for  the  year  1882.  From  the 
Museum. 

"  Bulletin  de  la  Societe  de  Geographic  d'Anvers  "  Tome 
VII.,  7me.,  Fasc.  1883.     From  the  Society. 

"  Eleventh  Annual  Report  of  the  Zoological  Society  of  Phila- 
delphia, for  the  year  1882."     From  the  Society. 

"Bulletin  de  la  Societe  Zoologique  de  France."  Tome  YII,, 
5e  Partie.      1882. 

Pamphlet  on  "  The  Foraminifera  of  Victoria."  By  H. 
Watts,  Esq.      From  the  author. 

Pamphlet  on  the  "  Proteacese  of  the  Victorian  Alps."  By 
James  Stirling,  Esq.     From  the  author. 

A  number  of  Copies  of  the  "  Proceedings  of  the  Linnean 
Society  of  New  South  Wales."     From  Thomas  Robertson,  Esq. 

Thirteen  papers,  seven  on  New  Zealand  Botany,  and  six  on 
New  Zealand  Crustacea.  By  George  M.  Thomson,  Esq.,  F.L.S. 
From  the  author. 


300  MYOLOGY    OF    CHLAMYDOSAURUS    KINGII, 

"  Jahreshefte  des  Yeveins  fiir  vaterlanclisclie  Naturkunde  in 
Wiirttemberg."     Volume  for  1883. 

"  Bulletin  de  la  Societe  Imperiale  des  Naturalistes  de 
Moscou."  Tome  LYIII.,  No.  2,  1  and  2  Livraisons.  From  the 
Society. 

"  Mittheilungen  aus  der  Zoologisclien  Station  zu  Neapel." 
Yierter  (iv.)  Band,  II  Heft,  1883.     From  the  Director. 

"  Report  of  the  Progress  and  Condition  of  the  Botanic 
Garden  and  Government  Plantations,  Adelaide,  during  the  year 
1882."     From  the  Director. 

'*  Yerhandlungen  der  Kaiserlich-Koniglichen  Zoologisch- 
botanischen  Gesellschaft  in  Wien."  Austria.  XXXII  Band, 
Jahrgane  1882.     From  the  Society. 

**  Bulletin  of  the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology  at  Harvard 
College."     Yol.  X.,  Nos.  5  and  6,  1883,     From  the  Museum. 


papers  read. 
Myology  of    Chlamydosaurus  Kingii. 

By  Charles  W.  De  Yis,  B.A. 

[Plates  xiv.-xvi.] 

The  present  study,  if  it  may  be  so-called,  of  the  muscles  of  the 
Frilled  Lizard  was  suggested  long  ago  by  an  incident  in  the 
Queensland  bush.  On  one  of  the  two  occasions  on  which  I  have 
seen  the  lizard  adopt  its  biped  mode  of  locomotion,  trotting  out 
briskly  on  its  hind  legs,  its  fore-paws  hanging  down  affectedly 
and  its  vertebral  line  to  the  very  snout  stiffened  at  an  angle  of  60^, 
I  was  much  interested  to  see  it  halt  abruptly,  erect  its  frill, 
and  at  the  same  moment  turn  its  head  enquiringly  from  side  to 
side— then  trot  on  again  for  twenty  yards  or  so,  and  repeat  its 
attitude  of  attention — thus  it  did,  till  it  reached  the  tree  it  was 
making  for,  then  darting  a  few  feet  up  its  bole  it  clung  there 
immovable   for   more   hours    than   my    leisure    could    afford   for 


BY    CHARLES    W.   DE   VIS,  B.A.  301 

observation.  Tlie  listening  attitude  assumed  by  the  pedestrian 
reptile,  if  the  plirase  may  be  excused,  was  so  real,  or  at  least  so 
realistic,  that  it  at  once  occurred  to  me  that  one  function  of  the 
hood  might  be  that  of  conducting  sound  to  the  tympanum,  an 
office  apparently  aided  by  the  channels  formed  by  its  converging 
folds,  and  that  if  it  were  so  it  might  be  furnished  with  special 
muscles.  After  this  point  had  been  investigated  it  was  a  facilis 
descensus  to  the  nether  extremities,  where  nature  might  be  asked 
if  she  had  made  any  peculiar  muscular  provision  for  erect  carriage  •. 
and  when  this  question  had  been  put  so  few  of  the  creatures 
muscles  remained  intact,  that  it  seemed  well  to  examine  the  rest 
and  render  an  account  of  the  whole  myology  of  a  lizard,  which  is 
really  inferior  to  few  in  interest.  I  do  not  propose  to  lengthen 
the  following  descriptions  with  references  to  the  muscles  of 
whatever  lizards  may  have  been  previously  examined,  but  to  form 
them  as  tersely  as  possible.  At  some  future  time  an  opportunity 
may  be  taken  of  comparing  the  myology  of  some  other  of  our 
Australian  lacertians,  not  only  with  that  of  the  subject  of  the 
present  observations,  but  with  that  of  all  the  extraneous  lizards 
which  have  been  monographed  or  otherwise  noticed. 

Muscles  of  the  under  surface   of  the  head. 

Mylohyoid  (Plate  xiv.,  fig.  1 — m.  h.) — At  its  commencement 
very  near  the  symphysis  menti  it  is  thick  and  attached  to  the  lower 
edge  of  the  mandible,  its  fibres  passing  transversely  from  each  side 
to  a  median  raphe  ;  as  it  recedes  from  the  symphysis  it  becomes 
gradually  thinner,  its  insertion  rises  higher  on  the  inner  surface  of 
the  jaw,  and  the  course  of  its  fibres  is  more  and  more  oblique  till  it 
merges  into  the 

Platysma  myoides  (fig.  1 — p.  m.)  which  sends  attenuated  fibres 
and  slips  to  the  gular  region  of  the  hood,  and  is  lost  dorsad  in  the 
fascia  covering  the  trapezius,  but  acquires  thickness  over  the 
sternum  and  cervix. 

Thyromandihularis  (fig.  1 — t.  m.) — Two  distinct  muscles  may 
bear  this  name,  an  externus  and  an  internus.  The  latter  rises  by 
two  slips  from  about  the  middle  of  the  inner  surface  of  the  mandible 


302  MYOLOGY    OF    CHLAMYDOSAURUS    KINGII, 

and  is  inserted  into  the  middle  of  the  inner  side  of  the  thyrohyal. 
The  greatly  elongated  thyrohyal  passes  between  the  two  layers  of 
integument  constituting  the  hood,  at  its  middle  fold,  and  so  forms 
a  "  yard  "  to  which  the  lower  half  of  the  hood  is  bent.  This 
inner  division  of  the  Thyromandibularis  being  an  adductor  of  the 
bone,  is  the  chief  agent  in  lowering  the  hood  and  bracing  its  lower 
moiety  to  the  side  of  the  neck — it  is  antagonised  by  the  greater 
part  of  the  outer  division  which  rises  fleshy  immediately  behind 
the  inner  one,  but  nearly  on  the  lower  edge  of  the  jaw,  the  origin 
of  the  mylohyoideus  being  between  them  It  immediately  divides 
into  two  superposed  fascicles,  the  deeper  one  being  inserted  into  the 
lower  surface  of  the  thyrohyal  a  little  behind  the  insertion  of  the 
inner  division — the  other  sub-division  is  inserted  posteriorly  to  the 
former  one  into  the  outer  side  of  the  bone  for  the  rest  of  its  length, 
and  acting  thus  advantageously  is  an  efficient  erector  of  the  lower 
part  of  the  hood. 

Geniohyoideits  (fig.  1 — g.  h.) — Partly  concealed  by  the  preceding 
rises  as  a  fleshy  cone  from  the  symphysis,  and  expanding  as  it 
recedes,  is  inserted  into  the  inner  side  of  the  base  of  the  thyrohyal. 

Geratomandibular  (tig.  1 — c.  m.) — Rises  by  a  double  headed 
origin  from  the  inner  side  of  the  mandible  below  the  thyroman 
dibularis — and  is  inserted  into  the  whole  of  the  outer  side  of  the 
cerato-hyal  to  its  extremity. 

Glossohyoideus. — From  the  mandible,  between  the  symphysis 
and  the  insertion  of  the  thyromandibularis— from  the  median 
raphe — the  outer  edge  of  the  under  surface  of  the  tongue,  the  side 
of  the  basi-hyal  and  strongly  from  the  hinder  end  of  the  base  of 
the  tongue — inserted  into  the  outer  side  of  the  proximal  portion  of 
the  thyrohyal  as  far  backward  as  the  insertion  of  the  outer  division 
of  the  thyromandibularis — a  powerful  divaricator  of  the  thyrohyals 
and  consequent  erector  of  the  hood. 

Hyohranchialis  (fig.  1,  h.  b.) — From  the  hinder  edge  of  the 
arm  of  the  ceratohyal  to  the  whole  of  the  inner  edge  of  the  thyro- 
hyal beneath  the  glossohyoideus  —  the  deepest  of  the  muscles 
concerned  in  the  erection  of  the  frill. 


by  charles  w.  de  vis,  b.a.  303 

Muscles  of  the  upper  surface  of  the  head. 

Digastric  (fig.  2-d.) — In  two  very  distinct  and  subequal  bodies. 
The  external  from  the  edge  and  posterior  sloping  surface  of  the 
postfrontal : — passing  the  fibro-cartilaginous  root  of  Grey's  cartilage 
of  the  hood  its  outer  fibres  have  a  strong  insertion  into  the  hinder 
part  of  the  root  of  the  cartilage;  it  is  thence  continued  to  form  the 
posterior  portion  of  its  joint  insertion  into  the  extremity  of  the 
inner  surface  of  the  long  articular  process  of  the  mandible.  By 
virtue  of  its  insertion  into  the  cartilage  it  becomes  the  chief  erector 
of  the  upper  half  of  the  hood.  The  internal  body  rises  from  the 
parietal  process,  and  converging  to  the  external  near  their  joint 
insertion  forms  the  posterior  half  of  that  insertion. 

Attolleas  chlamydis  (fig.  2 — atc.).~A  thin  triangular  muscle 
rising  from  the  posterior  half  of  the  edge  of  the  postfrontal 
external  to  the  digastric  and  inserted  into  the  fore  part  of  the 
lower  angle  of  Grey's  cartilage. 

Additctoi'  chlamydis  (fig.  2 — a.  c). — A  very  distinct  band  rising 
over  the  occipital  condyle  from  the  ligamentum  nuchse  and  fascia 
of  tlie  complexus  major  in  apposition  to  its  fellow  of  the  opposite 
side  ;  running  outward  and  downward  within  a  conspicuous  fold 
of  the  integument  of  the  hood  it  reaches  Grey's  cartilage,  and  is 
inserted  into  it  at  about  the  middle  of  its  lower  side.  Its  function 
seems  to  be  to  draw  the  erect  hood  downward  and  inward  upon 
the  neck. 

Pterygoideus  exter7ius. — From  the  sloping  posterior  external 
surface,  rotular  anterior  edge  and  adjacent  inner  surface  of  the 
articular  process ; — inserted  mainly  by  strong  tendon  into  the 
entopterygoid  process,  also  into  the  edge  of  the  entopterygoid  as 
far  as  its  exterior  process. 

Pterygoideus  iaternus. — From  the  posterointernal  surface  of 
the  articular  process  nearly  to  the  coronoid  process ; — inserted  into 
the  edge  and  surface  of  the  entopterygoid. 

Temijoralis  (fig.  2  t.) — From  the  whole  fossa — i.e.,  from  the 
outer  side  of  the  tympanic,  columella,  and  parietal  process ; 
inserted  into  the  coronoid  process  and  edge  of  the  surangular 
element. 


304  MYOLOGY    OF    CHLAMYDOSAURUS    KINGII, 

The  preceding  three  muscles  are  but  moderately  developed. 

Zygomaticus  (fig.  2 — z.) — A  thin  but  very  distinct  muscle  rises 
from  the  curved  posterior  edge  of  the  malar,  and  rests  upon  the 
anterior  portion  of  the  temporalis.  It  is  inserted  by  two  attach- 
ments into  the  outer  and  inner  sides  of  the  commissure  of  the  lips. 
Its  office  being  clearly  to  raise  the  commissure,  I  venture  to 
recognise  it  as  a  zygomaticus   major,    and  very    unexpected  the 


Muscles  of  the  neck  and  throat. 

Complexus  major. — From  the  spines  of  the  anterior  two  dorsal 
and  transverse  processes  of  the  posterior  cervical  vertebrae ; — 
inserted  as  usual  into  the  supraoccipital  and  parietal  process. 

Complexus  minor. — From  the  transverse  processes  of  the  cervical 
vertebrae  ;  inserted  by  two  equal  divisions  separable  for  some 
distance  from  their  points  of  attachment  into  the  parotic  ridge  and 
into  the  occipito-parotic  process  beneath  the  insertion  of  the 
sternocleidomastoidens. 

Rectus  cajntis  p)Osticus  major. — Under  the  circumstances  I  was 
rather  suiprised  that  no  trace  of  this  muscle  was  discoverable. 

Spinalis  colli. — Lying  between  the  spines  and  transverse 
processes  of  the  cervical  vertebrae  beneath  the  complexus  major  ; 
inserted  beneath  the  complexi  into  the  supraoccipital  and  parietal. 

Sterno( cleido )mastoideus  (fig.  1  — s.  c.  m.). — A  very  narrow  ribbon 
running  obliquely  from  the  foremost  point  of  the  true  sternum  to 
its  insertion  into  the  occipito-mastoid  process. 

Omohyoid  (fig.  1 — o.  h.). — A  powerful  muscle  rising  from  the 
middle  third  of  the  anterior  edge  of  the  clavicle;  also  by  a  narrow 
slip  from  the  sternum  below  (ventrad  of)  the  preceding,  and 
joiniug  the  main  body  at  about  the  middle  of  its  length.  Its 
insertion  is  into  the  proximal  third  of  the  lower  edge  of  the  inner 
side  of  the  thyrohyal. 

Sternohyoid  (fig.  1 — s.  h.). — Has  a  bulky  origin  from  the 
sternum  immediately  superposed  by  the  omohyoid,  and  from  the 
strong  fascia  investing  the  pectoralis  major.  Ic  expands  and  thins 
away  as  it  proceeds  to  the  inner  side  of  the  thyrohyal  beneath  the 


BY    CHARLES   W.  DE    VIS,  B.A.  305 

omoliyoid.  Its  anterior  fibres  are  inserted  near  the  lower  edge,  its 
posterior  ones  gradually  ascend  towards  the  upper  edge  of  the  bone. 

Rectus  capitis  antlcus  major. — Rises  by  tendon  from  the  basi- 
occipital  process:  also  froiti  the  hinder  edge  of  the  lower  surface  of 
the  bone; — inserted  into  the  upper  part  of  the  under  surface  of  the 
third  and  fourth  ribs,  and  sides  of  the  bodies  of  the  posterior 
cervical  vertebrae. 

Longus  colli. — From  the  ventral  surfaces  of  the  atlas  and  axis 
and  posterior  cervical  vertebrae  ;  inserted  into  the  summit  of  the 
first  and  second  ribs,  and  thence  continued  to  be  inserted  with  the 
rectus  anticus. 

Scalenus. — Unusually  small ;  rising  from  the  transverse  process 
of  the  fifth  cervical  vetebra  it  is  inserted  into  the  fore  edge  of  the 
first  (cervical)  rib. 

Cervicalis  ascendens. — An  indefinable  continuation  of  the  sacro- 
lumbalis.  It  may  be  said  to  be  inserted  into  the  three  anterior 
ribs,  the  three  posterior  cervical  vetebrse  and  rather  strongly  into 
the  deep  surface  of  the  levator  scapulae  near  its  origin. 

Muscles  of  the  shoulder — girdle  and  fore  limb. 

Pectoralis  major  (fig.  3 — p.  m.). — From  the  last  sternal  rib,  and 
the  middle  line  of  the  sternum  to  the  base  of  the  clavicle,  but  not 
from  the  interclavicle ;  inserted  into  the  summit  of  the  radial 
tuberosity  of  the  humerus. 

Pectoralis  minor. — Nob  represented. 

Trapezius. — Rises  by  a  thin,  strong  aponeurosis  from  the  eighth 
rib;  anteriorly  its  aponeurosis  becomes  continuous  with  the  nuchal 
fascia.  Inserted  by  a  broad  tendon  into  the  outer  side  of  the  edge 
of  the  anterior  angle  of  the  scapula. 

Deltoid  (fig.  3 — d.). — In  two  divisions.  The  first  from  the 
base  of  the  suprascapula  and  summit  of  the  scapula,  and  from  the 
ligamentous  sepiment  between  it  and  the  latissimus  dorsi  over  the 
subscapularis.  The  second  from  the  whole  posterior  edge  of  the 
clavicle.  The  common  insertion  is  into  the  outer  side  of  the 
summit  of  the  radial  tuberosity  of  the  humerus. 


306  MYOLOGY   OF    CHLAMYDOSAURUS    KINGII, 

Epicoracohumeralis. — From  the  bifurcation  of  the  epicoracoid 
from  the  fenestra,  and  from  the  adjacent  edge  of  the  coracohiimeral ; 
— inserted  into  the  apex  of  the  radial  tuberosity  between  the  deltoid 
and  pectoralis  major. 

Infraspinatus. — From  the  spinous  process  of  the  scapula  :  by  a 
distinct  slip  from  the  upper  spur  of  the  epicoracoid  and  from  the 
membrane  between  them — the  combined  body  also  derives  origin, 
but  rather  scantily,  from  the  subjacent  bone  nearly  to  the  gleuoid 
cavity.  Passing  between  the  two  long  heads  of  the  triceps  and  its 
external  humeral  origin,  and  beneath  the  ligamentous  strap  con- 
necting the  second  long  head  of  the  triceps  with  the  head  of  the 
humerus,  it  is  inserted  between  the  humeral  heads  of  the  triceps. 

Triceps  (Plate  xiv.,  fig.  3,  and  Plate  xv.,  fig.  4 — t.) — 1st.  Ex- 
ternal long  head,  from  the  posterior  edge  of  the  base  of  the  scapula 
(fig.  4-T.  1.) 

2nd.  Internal  long  head,  on  the  left  side  rises  from  the  same 
spot  ventrad  of  the  external  :  on  the  right^  side  rises  from  the 
articular  ligament.  This  head  receives  a  long  slender  tendon  from 
the  ligamentous  arch  beneath  the  subscapularis.      (fig  4  — T.  2.) 

3rd.  External  humeral,  from  the  Tvhole  posteroexternal  surface 
of  the  humerus; — externally  communicating  with  the 

4th.  Internal  humeral,  from  the  internal  surface  of  the  humerus 
as  far  as  the  head. 

The  common  insertion  is  into  the  patelloid  ossicle  and  summit  of 
the  ulna. 

Brachialis  anticus  (fig.  3  &  4 — b.  a.) — From  beneath  the  radial 
tuberosity  and  downwards  ; — at  less  than  two-thirds  of  the  length 
of  the  bone  it  blends  indissolubly  with  the  biceps. 

Bicei^s  (Plate  xiv.,  fig.  3,  and  Plate  xv.,  fig.  4 — b.) — 1st.  Head 
rises — by  a  broad  tendon  (without  any  interruption)  from  the 
anterior  sternal  margin  of  the  coracoid. 

2nd.  Head — rises  by  a  fleshy  belly  from  the  lower  epicoracoid 
spur  and  edge  of  the  fenestra  ; — at  about  half  its  independent 
course  this  belly  becomes  a  tendon,  and  again  becomes  fleshy  before 
joining  the  first  head.  Inserted  in  common  with  the  Brachialis 
anticus  into  which  it  quickly  merges. 


BY    CHARLES    W.  DE    VIS,  B.A.  307 

Coraco  hracMalis — C.  hrevis. — The  short  portion  rises  from  the 
lower  two-thirds  of  the  posterior  surface  of  the  epicoracoid,  and 
from  the  internal  surface  of  the  head  of  the  humerus  ;— it  is  inserted 
into  the  proximal  half  of  the  fore  edge  of  the  humerus.  G.  longus. 
The  long  portion  rises  from  the  lower  (sternal)  edge  of  the  common 
origin,  and  is  inserted  into  the  inner  condyle. 

Levator  scapulce. — From  the  aponeurosis  covering  the  side  of  the 
neck,  and  from  the  pleurapophyses  of  the  atlas  and  three  succeeding 
vetebrse.  It  expands  as  it  passes  backwards  to  its  insertion,  which 
is  separable  into  two  parts,  a  lower  or  ventral  one  beneath  the 
upper  part  of  the  origin  of  the  sternohyoid,  and  a  dorsal  one  into 
the  upi)er  interior  angle  of  the  suprascapula  and  the  edge  of  the 
scapula.  The  two  portions  may  be  separated  for  some  distance  ere 
they  join. 

Latissimus  dor  si. — From  the  fourth,  fifth,  and  sixth  dorsal 
vertebrae,  and  thence  to  the  last  true  rib  ; — inserted  into  the  short 
ridge  on  the  posterior  external  surface  of  the  humerus  below  the 
head, 

Costocoracoid. — A  very  feeble  muscle  from  the  anterior  edge  of 
the  first  sternal  rib  ; — inserted  into  the  sternocoracoid  ligament 
going  from  the  posterior  upper  of  the  sternum  to  the  bottom  of 
the  epicoracoidal  fork. 

Sternoco stalls. — A  thin  sheet  from  the  same  point  of  the  sternum 
to  the  anterior  edge  of  the  third  sternal  rib. 

Serratus. — 1st.  From  the  distal  moiety  of  the  fourth  and  fifth 
sternal  ribs  and  posterior  edge  of  the  third,  along  which  it 
exchanges  fibres  with  the  second  portion  beneath ;  inserted  into 
upper  part  of  the  hinder  edge  of  the  scapula,  extending  a  little 
around  the  upper  angle. 

2nd.  From  the  lower  end  of  the  third  vetebral  rib  beneath  the 
first  portion ;  inserted  into  the  middle  of  the  hinder  margin  of  the 
scapula  below  the  first  portion, 

3rd.  Small,  from  the  back  of  the  upper  part  of  the  third  rib  ; 
inserted  into  the  lower  surface  of  the  hinder  upper  angle  of  the 
suprascapula. 


308  MYOLOGY    OF    CHLAMYDOSAURUS    KINGII, 

4th.  Mucli  larger,  from  the  upper  part  of  the  second  and  first 
rib ;  inserted  into  the  upper  half  of  the  under  surface  of  tlie 
suprascapula. 

Suhscapularis. — From  the  whole  deep  surface  of  the  scapula, 
coracoid  and  epicoracoid  ;  inserted  into  the  ulnar  tuberosity  of  the 
humerus. 

Coracohumeralis. — (^External  sterno-coracoid  of  Mivart,  P.Z.S. 
1867-779).  From  the  whole  deep  surface  of  the  coracoid  and 
epicoracoid  ;  its  fibres  converging  are  inserted  strongly  into  the 
ulnar  tuberosity  beneath  the  insertion  of  the  subscapularis. 

Sternocoracoid. — From  the  articulations  of  all  the  sternal  ribs 
with  the  sternum ; — meeting  its  fellow  of  the  opposite  side  at  the 
posterior  end  of  the  sternum,  but  diverging  from  it  anteriorly  to 
be  inserted  by  a  long  tendon  into  the  deep  surface  of  the  lower 
(posterior)  spur  of  the  epicoracoid,  passing  beneath  the  edge  of  the 
coracohumeralis  on  the  one  side,  over  it  on  the  other. 

Pronator  teres. — Rises  by  a  moderate  tendon  from  the  summit  of 
the  olecranon  ;  passing  over  to  the  supinator  longus  it  becomes 
confluent  with  it. 

Supinator  longus  (fig.  4 — s.  1.). — Rises  by  a  single  head  from 
the  outer  condyle  ; — inserted  into  the  radial  edge  of  the  lower  half 
of  the  radius 

Pronator  hrevis. — From  the  fore  part  of  the  inner  condyle  ; 
insertion  into  the  second  fourth  of  the  radius. 

Supinator  brevis. — From  the  hinder  part  of  the  inner  condyle, 
insertion  into  the  upper  third  of  the  ulna. 

Pronator  quadratus. — From  the  flexor  surface  of  the  lower 
(distal)  half  of  the  ulna  into  the  flexor  surface  of  the  radius.  At 
its  upper  end  wedged  in  between  the  pronator  brevis  and  supinator 
brevis. 

Flexor  sitblimis  digitorum. — Has  the  normal  lacertian  origin 
from  the  annular  ligament;  its  perforated  digitations  are  inserted 
each  into  the  base  of  the  first  phalanx  of  the  digit. 


BY    CHARLES    W.   DE    VIS,  B.A.  309 

Flexor  carpi  ulnaris  (fig.  4— f.  u.)— First  head  tendinous  from 
the  olecranon  and  soon  coalescing  with  the  extensor  carpi 
ulnaris.  Second  or  condylar  head  irom  the  inner  condyle  forming 
a  round  fusiform  belly  entirely  separable  from  the  first.  The 
common  insertion  is  carneotendinous  into  the  ulnar  side  of  the 
common  tendon  of  the  flexor  profundus. 

Flexor  profundus  digitorum  (fig.  3 — f.  p.  d.) — The  two  condylar 
heads  of  this  muscle  are  separable,  but  with  difiiculty.  They 
quickly  blend  with  the  ulnar  head,  and  in  the  large  tendon  common 
to  them  is  a  sesamoid.  The  fourth  or  deep  head  rises  fleshy  from 
the  carpus,  and  is  inserted  into  each  tendon.  The  great  tendon 
runs  up  within  the  muscle  as  a  rather  stifi"  tongue,  reminding  one 
of  the  semiossified  tendons  of  birds. 

Extensor  carpi  ulnaris. — Rises  tendinous  from  the  outer  condyle; 
soon  becoming  confluent  with  the  olecranal  division  of  the  Flex. 
c.  u.  is  inserted  into  the  pisiform  and  fifth  metacarpal. 

Extensor  carjyi  radialis  (fig.  4— e.  r, — Tendinous  from  the  outer 
and  hinder  part  of  the  outer  condyle ; — besides  its  three  tendons  to 
the  second,  third,  and  fourth  metatarsals,  it  sends  a  fleshy  slip  to 
the  fascia  over  the  fifth. 

Extensor  ossis  metacarpi  jyoUicis. — From  the  distal  third  of  the 
ulna  ;—  inserted  into  the  metacarpal  of  the  pollex. 

Extensor  proprius  2)ollicis. — This  is  a  thin  band  running  on  the 
distal  edge  of  the  preceding  from  the  ulna  across  to  the  pollex, 
where  it  forms  a  tendon  which  proceeds  along  its  upper  surface  to 
the  ungual  phalanx. 

Extensor  communis. — Feeble  ;  rising  from  the  carpus,  forms  a 
muscular  pad  hardly  resolvable  into  distinct  fascicles  except  at 
their  insertions  into  the  bases  of  the  digits. 

Adductor  minimi  digiti. — Distinct  though  small  ; — rising  by  a 
long  tendon  from  the  metacpvrpal  of  the  pollex  ; — inserted  fleshy 
into  the  distal  end  and  radial  side  of  the  metacarpal  of  the  fifth 
digit. 


310  MYOLOGY    OF    CHLAMYDOSAURUS    KINGII, 

Interossei.  1st,  Flexor  brevis. — Large,  fanlike  ; — rising  from  the 
carpus  and  going  in  pairs  of  fascicles  to  each  side  of  the  three 
middle  digits.  2nd.  A  similar  pair  of  very  feeble  insertions  into 
the  fifth  digit.  3rd.  Opponens  jyoUicis,  a  single  fascicle  from  the 
iihiar  side  of  the  index  to  the  ulnar  side  of  the  pollex.  4th. 
Flexot  brevis  pollicis — A  fascicle  with  direct  course  from  the  carpus 
to  the  ulnar  side  of  the  pollex. 

Interossei  dorsales. —  From  the  carpus  to  each  side  of  each  digit 
save  the  pollex.  The  fascicle  mentioned  by  Mr.  Mivart  as  inserted 
into  the  metacarj)ai  of  the  pollex  appears  to  be  substituted  by  the 
extensor  proprius  pollicis. 

Muscles  of  the  pelvis  and  hind  limb, 

Sartor-gracilis  (fig.  5 — s.  g.) — The  broad  and  thin  muscle 
traversing  the  inner  (ventral)  side  of  the  lacertian  thigh  obliquely 
and  superficially,  occupying  the  place  and  performing  the  functions 
of  the  sartorius  and  gracilis  has  been  named  both  the  one  and  the 
other.  In  the  present  subject  at  least,  it  seems  to  me  to  be  a 
combination  of  the  two  and  to  deserve  the  compound  name.  It 
rises  from  the  ischium,  and  the  arched  ligament  connecting  the 
ischium  with  the  spine  of  the  pubis.  It  has  no  origin  from 
the  ischiatic  symphysis.  Its  tendon  is  inserted  into  the  ridge 
on  the  back  of  the  tibial  side  of  the  tibia,  at  the  lower  end  of 
the  internal  lateral  ligament  where  it  covers  the  tendon  of 
the  semitendinosus  whose  insertion  is  in  nnion  with  it.  The 
sartorius  is  represented  by  the  upper  and  major  part  of  the  muscle, 
the  gracilis  by  the  inferior  fibres  which  about  the  middle  of  their 
length  separate  from  the  rest,  and  send  a  slender  tendon  to  be 
inserted  just  below  that  of  the  chief  division,  distinct  from  it,  but 
conmiunicating  with  it  by  a  minute  belly  and  delicate  tendon. 

Semitendinosus  (fig.  5 — s.  t.)— From  the  ligament  joining  the 
posterior  point  of  the  ilium  with  the  tuberosity  of  the  ischium,  in 
close  proximity  to  the  origin  of  the  biceps ; — inserted  as  the  deep 
part  of  the  sartor — gracilis  tendon. 


BY    CHARLES    W.   DE    VIS,  B.A.  311 

Biceps  (fig.  6 — b.  f.)— Rises  ventrad  and  contiguously  to  the  last. 
Behind  the  knee  it  forms  two  tendons.  One  passes  clown  the 
inner  edge  of  the  oastrocnemius  internus  with  which  it  is  incor- 
porated,  the  other  passes  forwards  between  the  heads  of  the 
gastrocuemii,  and  of  the  tibia  and  fiVjuIa,  and  is  inserted  into  the 
front  of  the  tibia  immediately  below  the  head. 

Semimembranosus  (fig.  6 — s.  m.) — Rises  a  little  apart  from  and 
ventrad  of  the  biceps,  passes  behind  the  tendon  of  the  femoro 
caudal,  and  quickly  divides  into  two  portions  : — 

1st.  Its  tendon  passes  beneath  the  internal  lateral  ligament  to  be 
inserted  into  the  summit  of  the  inner  side  of  the  tibia. 

2nd.  Receives  the  tendon  of  the  tibial  adductor,  and  with  it  is 
inserted  into  the  summit  of  the  outer  side  of  the  tibia.  Along 
its  anterior  edge  runs  the  long  tendon  of  the  femoro  caudal. 

Adductor  tibialis  (Plate  xvi.,  fig.  9 — s.) — A  compressed  muscle 
wedged  in  between  the  rectus  and  adductor  magnus  ; — it  rises  from 
the  acetabulo — pubic  ligament  anterior  to  the  origin  of  the  gracilis 
— it  is  inserted  with  the  first  division  of  the  semimembranosus. 

Adductor  magnus  (fig.  9 — a.) — Rises  from  the  ischiopubic 
ligament  immediately  below  the  gracilis.  It  is  inserted  into  the 
whole  length  of  the  posterior  surface  of  the  femur  flanked  distad 
by  the  vastus  externus  and  internus ; — the  inner  (femoral)  portion 
of  the  distal  end  is  separable  as  a  small  flat  belly. 

Vastus  externus  (Plate  xv.,  fig.  6 — v.  ex.) — Rather  large,  rises 
from  the  proximal  third  of  the  femur,  and  at  the  middle  blends 
indissolubly  with  the  crurseus. 

Vastus  internus  (fig.  5 — v.  i.) — Much  smaller,  from  the  inner 
side  of  the  humerus  at  about  its  middle,  and  merging  below  into 
the  extensor  mass. 

Iliopenmeal  (fig.  6 — i,  p.) — Semitendinous  from  the  middle  of  the 
inferior  border  of  the  ilium,  not  overlapping  the  glutseus  medius ; 
inserted  by  strong  tendon  into  the  outer  side  of  the  head  of  the 
femur  between  the  outer  head  of  the  gastrocnemius  externus 
and  the  peromeus  primus. 


312  MYOLOGY    OF    CHLAMYDOSAURUS    KINGII, 

Rectus  femoris  (fig  5 — r.  f.) — Tendinous  from  the  brim  of  the 
acetabulum,  passes  beneath  the  origin  of  the  adductor  tibialis  at  the 
proximal  third  of  its  length,  is  joined  by  a  long  slip  rising 
tendinous  from  the  iliopubic  spine  below  the  origin  of  the  glutoeus 
maximus,  and  is  inserted  into  the  patella,  in  common  with  the 
cruraeus. 

Glutceus  maximus  (fig,  5  &  6 — g.  mx.) — Rising  from  a  thin 
strong  tendinous  fascia  attached  to  the  ilio-pubic  ligament,  it  is 
bound  down  posteriorly  by  tendinous  fibres  to  the  ilioischiatic 
ligament  arching  over  the  passage  of  the  femoro  caudal  tendon  : 
and  fuses  with  the  crurseus  midway  on  its  anterior  surface,  and 
lower  down  on  its  outer  lateral  si<le. 

Glutceus  medius  (fig.  5 — m.  a.) — From  the  inferior  outer  border 
of  the  ilium  passing  from  under  the  origin  of  the  maximus  ; — 
inserted  into  the  proximal  third  of  the  posterior  surface  of  the 
femur  behind  the  origin  of  the  crurseus. 

Femoro-caudal  (fig.  9 — f.  c.) — A  strong  muscular  sheet  from  the 
lower  side  of  the  proximal  fourth  of  the  tail ; — inserted  by  a  broad 
strong  tendon  into  a  low  ridge  or  row  of  tubercles  at  the  outer 
base  of  the  trochanter  :  reflexing  and  rotating  the  femur.  From  the 
lower  side  of  its  tendon  near  insertion,  a  long  slender  tendon, 
sent  down  the  biceps,  runs  to  the  interarticular  cartilage  beneath 
the  poplitoeal  space,  and  is  there  inserted. 

Py7'iformis  (fig.  7 — p.  f.) — From  the  lower  surface  of  the  first 
three  transverse  processes  of  caudal  vertebrae  ;  inserted  into  the 
iliopubic  ligament,  and  thence  into  the  trochanter  immediately 
external  to  the  tendon  of  the  femorocaudal.  A  minute  belly  rising 
from  the  ischiatic  tubercle,  and  inserted  by  tendon  into  the  side 
of  the  head  of  the  femur  appears  to  be  an  accessory  slip. 

Pectineus. — In  three  divisions.  The  first  a  small  fusiform 
belly  rising  in  front  of  the  pubic  spine,  and  going  to  the  lower 
part  of  the  trochanter  ridge  superficial  to  the  second,  which 
is  a  larger  fascicle  from  the  pubic  spine  into  the  same  ridge 
immediately  above  it.  The  third  is  from  the  concavity  formed  by 
the  reflected  lip  of  the  pubis,  and  goes  to  the  same  insertion  in 
union  with  the  previous  one. 


BY    CHARLES    W.  DE    VIS,  B.A.  313 

Obturator  externus. — From  the  ischium  and  obturator  mem- 
brane, in  continuity  with  the  last ;  inserted  into  the  trochanteric 
fossa  higher  than  the  insertion  of  the  pyriformis. 

Obturator  internus. — Possibly  represented  by  the  slip  referred 
to  the  pyriformis  with  which  it  may  have  no  real  connection. 

Iliacus  pri7nus. — A.  long  fiat  band  from  the  median  raphe  on 
the  deep  surface  of  the  pubis  ;  it  passes  over  the  brim  of  the  pelvis 
close  by  the  pubic  spine  receiving  fleshy  fibres  from  the  brim  in 
its  passage  and  is  inserted  into  the  acetabulo-ischiatic  ligament. 

Secundus  (fig.  7 — i.  2) — A  long  thin  muscle  rising  also  from  the 
median  raphe,  and  passing  dorsad  of  the  primus  over  the  pelvic 
brim. 

Tertlus  (fig.  7 — i.  3)— Broad  and  strong  from  the  whole  deep 
surface  of  the  pubis  and  ischium.  It  passes  over  the  brim  of  the 
pelvis  between  the  two  heads  of  the  rectus,  and  is  inserted  into  the 
second  upper  fourth  of  the  femur,  becoming  also  continuous  with 
the  origin  of  the  vastus  externus.  On  the  left  side  however,  it  has 
no  connection  with  the  vastus,  but  sends  fibres  to  the  cruralis 
from  its  lower  transverse  edge. 

Gastrocnemius  internus  (fig.  9  &  10 — g.  i.) — From  the  whole 
length  of  the  inner  condyle  of  the  femur  between  the  tendons  of 
the  sartor — gracilis  and  inner  semimembranosus,  and  of  the  biceps. 
Its  outer  edge  is  strengthened  by  the  long  tendon  of  the  biceps. 
It  forms  the  superficial  plantar  fascia,  strengthening  the  tendons 
of  the  gastrocnemius  externus. 

GastroGner)iius  externus  (fig.  9  &  10 — g.  e.) — Rises  together 
with  the  plantaris  from  the  outer  femoral  condyle  above  the  outer 
semimembranosus,  and  the  peronseus  primus.  As  it  passes  over  the 
flexor  profundus  it  communicates  fibres  to  it  in  one  leg  but  not  in 
the  other.  In  its  distal  portion,  its  line  of  junction  with  the 
plantaris  is  obvious,  but  the  two  are  still  inseparably  blended.  It 
is  inserted  as  part  of  the 

Plantaris  (fig.  10 — p.  l.)~ Which,  rising  in  union  with  the  pre- 
ceding, has  three  insertions.  First  or  fibular  division  ; — its  tendon 
splits  into  unequal  parts,  whereof  the  first  receives  a  tendon  from 


314  MYOLOGY    OF    CHLAMYDOSAURUS    KINGIl, 

the  tibial  Inmbricalis,  and  running  along  the  tibial  edge  of  the 
lower  surface  of  the  third  toe  is  inserted  into  the  base  of  the 
penultimate  phalanx. 

Second  or  median  ; — gives  off  a  perforated  tendon  which,  after 
receiving  the  tendon  of  an  accessory  rising  from  the  deep  surface 
of  the  perforans,  re-unites,  and  is  inserted  into  the  tibial  side  of 
the  base  of  the  penultimate  phalanx  of  the  first  toe. 

Third  or  tibial  division.  The  tendon  is  perforated,  and  em- 
bracing the  perforans  is  inserted  on  either  side  of  the  base  of  the 
penultimate  phalanx  of  the  hallux. 

Flexor  longus  (fig.  7— f.  1.  d.) — Fleshy  from  the  outer  femoral 
condyle  between  the  tendinous  origins  of  the  glutaeus  externus  and 
peronseus  primus,  and  fleshy  from  the  middle  third  of  the  fibula; 
its  tendon  when  splitting  up  on  the  sole  receives  the  whole  of  the 
tibial  division  of  the  plantar  accessory.  It  has  beneath  each 
tendon  a  flat  fleshy  belly  which  rises  immediately  after  its  separa- 
tion ;  these  bellies  are  attached  fleshy  to  the  base  of  the  proximal 
phalanx  of  the  second  and  fourth  toes ;  the  flexor  tendons  go  to 
the  last  phalanx  of  each  of  the  five  digits.  The  outer  or  fibular 
tendon  passes  under  the  edge  of  the  outer  (second)  division  of  the 
lumbricales  ;  receives  the  equal  sized  tendon  of  the  outer  division 
of  the  plantar  accessor}^,  and  proceeds  to  the  base  of  the  terminal 
phalanx  of  the  fifth  digit. 

Peronceus  primus  (fig.  7 — p.  1.) — By  thin  tendon  from  the  outer 
femoral  condyle  and  a  strong  carneotendinous  origin  from  the  head 
of  the  fibula ;  inserted  by  a  strong  round  tendon  which  runs  in  a 
synovial  sheath  in  a  groove  at  the  back  of  the  outer  malleolus,  and 
is  inserted  into  the  outer  edge  of  the  fifth  metatarsal. 

Peronceus  secundus  (fig.  7 — p.  2.) — From  the  anterior  outer 
aspect  of  the  fibula  nearly  throughout ;  inserted  by  a  strong  tendon 
into  the  fifth  metatarsal  proximad  of  the  primus. 

Tibialis  anticus  (fig.  7 — t.  a.) — Fleshy  from  the  lower  four- 
fifths  of  the  tibia  ;  the  upper  portion  is  more  on  the  outer,  the 
lower  more  on  the  inner  aspect  of  the  front  of  the  bone ; 
inserted  by  a  broad  thin  tendon,  given  ofi"  by  its  fore  edge,  into  the 
proximal  third  of  the  metatarsal  of  the  hallux. 


BY    CHARLES    W.  DE   VIS,  B.A.  315 

Extensoo'  looigus  (fig.  7 — e.  1.  d.(—  Tendinous  from  the  outer  side 
of  the  fore  aspect  of  the  head  of  the  tibia;  — forms  a  slender  muscle 
dividing  its  tendon  over  the  base  of  the  middle  metatarsal.  Each 
tendon  passes  between  the  metatarsals  to  the  plantar  surface  of  the 
middle  one,  and  runs  forward  beneath  it  to  an  insertion  at  about 
three-fourths  of  its  length.  In  the  other  foot  the  tendon  undivided 
passes  down  the  peroneal  side  of  the  metatarsal. 

Extensor  hrevis  (fig.  7 — e.  b.  d.) — 1st.  From  the  peronseal  side 
of  the  lower  end  of  the  fibula  passes  obliquely  as  a  broad  slip  to  the 
dorsum  of   the  hallux. 

2nd.  Rises  inseparably  from  No.  1 ; — inserted  into  the  dorsum  of 
the  index.  In  the  other  foot  this  rises  by  tendon  from  the  upper 
fibular  side  of  the  base  of  the  first  (hallux)  metatarsal. 

3rd.  By  a  strong  tendon  from  a  depression  in  the  middle  of  the 
upper  surface  of  the  astragalus  ; — insertion  into  the  dorsum  of  the 
third  digit. 

4th.  From  the  base  of  the  fourth  metatarsal ; — inserted  into  the 
dorsum. 

5  th.  By  a  strong  tendon  froai  the  inner  side  of  the  outer 
tuberosity  of  the  calcaneum  ; — it  passes  without  adhesion  over  the 
dorsum  of  the  fourth  metacarpal,  and  is  inserted  into  the  base  of 
the  proximal  phalanx. 

6th.  Extensor  proprms  quarti  digiti. — Fleshy  from  the  fibular 
side  of  the  base  of  the  fourth  metatarsal ; — sends  a  long  tendon  to 
the  upper  and  outer  side  of  its  terminal  phalanx. 

Extensor  accessorius. — Two  fascicles  rising  together  from  the 
outer  side  of  the  anterior  tuberosity  of  the  calcaneum  send  a  long- 
tendon  along  the  outer  side  of  each  of  the  third  and  fourth  digits 
to  the  terminal  phalanges. 

PopUtceus  (fig.  7 — p.  p.) — From  the  tibial  side  of  the  head  of  the 
fibula  ;  inserted  into  the  posterior  side  of  the  upper  fourth  of  the 
tibia. 

Tibialis  posticus  (fig.  7 — t.  p.) — From  the  lower  two  thirds  of 
the  hinder  surface  of  the  fibula  ;   ends  in  a  carneotendinous  expan- 
sion investing  the  ends  of  the  tibia  and  fibula. 
w 


316  MYOLOGY   OF   CHLAMYDOSAURUS    KINGII, 

Peroneo-tihialis  (fig.  7 — ptb.) — A  small  pronating  muscle 
descending  from  about  the  lowest  fifth  of  the  fibula  to  the  tibia  ; 
on  to  the  anterior  surface  of  which  it  is  inserted. 

Supinator  pedis. — A  delicate  band  rising  beneath  the  tibialis 
posticus  fleshy  from  the  posterior  side  of  the  fibula  ;  inserted  by 
tendon  into  the  middle  of  the  outer  side  of  the  outer  malleolus. 

Lumhricales  (fig.  9 — 1.  1  &  2). — Are  merely  two  small  bundles 
rising  from  the  third  and  fourth  perforating  tendons.  The  smaller 
is  inserted  on  the  inner  side  of  the  third  tendon.  The  larger  and 
fibular  division  sends  a  slender  tendon  with  the  perforans  to  the 
tibial  side  of  the  base  of  the  penultimate  phalanx  of  the  fourth  toe. 

Flexor  accessorius  (fig.  9 — f.  a.  1). — In  three  divisions — 

1st.  (fig.  9 — f.  a.  1). — Rises  from  the  os  calcis,  and  is  inserted 
into  the  flexor  longus  tendon  on  its  peronceal  side  before  it  splits 
up  on  the  sole. 

2nd.  (Plate  xvi.,  fig.  9 — f.  a.  2). — From  the  inner  and  concave 
surface  of  the  fifth  metatarsal  nearly  to  its  distal  end.  Beneath  it 
proximad  runs  the  tendon  of  No.  1,  and  beside  it  lies  the  belly  of 
the  flexor  minimi  digiti ;  its  insertion  is  into  the  tendons  of  the 
digits  from  the  second  to  the  fourth. 

3rd.  (fig.  9 — £  a.  3). — By  a  long  round  tendon  from  the 
external  lower  angle  of  the  os  calcis  ;  resting  on  the  concave  surface 
of  the  metatarsal  it  winds  round  inwardly  and  downwards  to  the 
inner  side  of  the  fifth  metatarsal. 

Flexor  miiiimi  digiti. — Rises  above  the  No.  2  preceding,  on  the 
tibial  aspect  of  the  ridge  of  the  metatarsal,  and  is  inserted  by 
tendon  into  the  tibial  side  of  the  base  of  the  first  phalanx. 

Abdicctor.hallucis. — Rises  from  the  cuboid,  and  is  inserted  into 
the  first  phalanx  of  the  hallux. 

Abductor  metatarsi  quhiti. — Rises  by  a  short  stout  semi- 
tendinous origin  from  the  distal  end  of  the  calcaneum,  and  is 
inserted  fleshy  into  the  distal  tuberosity  of  the  deep  surface  of  the 
fifth  metatarsal. 


BY    CHARLES    W.  DE    VIS,  B.A.  317 

Transversahs  plantce  consist  of — 

1st.  A  flat  belly  from  the  upper  edge  of  the  inner  side  of  the 
fifth  metatarsal  under  the  accessory  flexor  No.  2.  It  crosses  the 
sole  and  is  inserted  into  the  outer  (fibular)  side  of  the  base  of  the 
first  phalanx  of  the  hallux. 

2nd.  Rises  by  tendon,  distad  of  the  preceding,  and  dividing 
into  two  flat  bellies,  is  inserted  into  the  second  and  third  toe. 

There  is  no  branch  of  this  superficial  layer  to  the  fourth  toe. 

Inter ossei. — These  are  in  three  sets,  connecting  the  toes  from  the 
hallux  to  the  fourth. 

Muscles  of  the  trunk  and  tail. 

Longissinms  dor  si. — Chiefly  a  continuation  of  tlie  upper  lateral 
columns  of  the  caudal  system.  It  has  also  a  strong  tendinous 
origin  from  the  posterior  process  of  the  ilium.  It  is  inserted  into 
the  dorsal  Sjoines  with  frequent  alternations  of  origin  and  insertion  : 
laterally  it  is  indistinguishably  blended  with  the  sacro  lumbalis. 

Sacro  lumbalis. — Rises  from  the  anterior  part  of  the  crest  of  the 
ilium,  and  is  inserted  by  tendinous  interdigitations  into  the  ribs 
till  it  merges  into  the  cervicalis  ascendens. 

Rectus  abdominis. — From  the  posterior  end  of  the  ischiatic 
symphysis  Occupying  as  usual  the  middle  tract  of  the  abdomen, 
on  its  lateral  edge  it  blends  with  the  external  oblique.  It  is 
inserted  into  the  last  two  ribs,  posterior  to  but  distinct  from  the 
pectoralis  major. 

External  oblique. — Separable  into  three  more  or  less  stratified 
divisions. 

1st.  From  the  third  rib  ventrad  of  the  origin  of  the  first  portion 
of  the  serratus,  and  from  the  two  following  ribs;  inserted  into  the 
rectus, 

2nd.  From  the  first  three  floating  ribs,  this  layer  terminates 
anteriorly  in  aponeurosis  and  blends  posteriorly  with  No.  1. 

3rd.  From  the  last  rib  and  lumbar  fascia  ;  it  has  a  strong 
insertion  into  the  pubic  spine,  and  by  virtue  of  its  lumbar  connec- 
tion into  the  anterior  process  of  the  ilium. 


318  MYOLOGY    OF    CHLAMYDOSAURUS    KINGII, 

Internal  oblique. — Lines  almost  the  entire  chest;  rising  from  all 
the  vertebral,  and  inserted  into  all  the  sternal  ribs  by  digitations, 
and  into  the  rectus  by  continuity. 

Transversalis. — From  a  fascia  extending  from  the  pelvis  to  the 
ribs ;  from  this  long  origin  it  runs  to  be  inserted  into  the  rectus 
and  sternum. 

Intercostahs  externi. — Run  obliquely  between  all  the  ribs  both 
vertebral  and  sternal. 

hitercostales  interni  — Between  the  sternal  ribs  only  :  but  on  the 
upper  half  of  the  vertebral  ribs  the  deep  fibres  of  the  extemi  are 
more  or  less  separable  as  an  internal  layer 

Retrahentes  costarum  from  the  ventral  surface  of  the  veteljrse 
adjacent  to  the  head  of  each  rib  forwards  to  the  fourth.  The 
broad  and  delicate  posterior  digitations  pass  beneath  two  ribs  to  be 
inserted  into  the  third  in  advance.  The  first  two  are  more  distinct, 
especially  the  first  which  rises  at  the  fourth  rib,  and  is  inserted  by 
a  rather  long  tendon  into  the  second. 

Caudalis  (Plate  xvi.,  figs.  12  &  13 — f.c.) — Consists  of  four  rows 
of  cone-in-cone  muscles,  one  on  each  side  of  the  upper  and  lower 
surfaces.  Posteriorly  these  columns  occupy  the  spaces  between  the 
spines  and  hsemapophyses  and  transverse  processes.  Towards  the 
base  of  the  tail  the  columns  separate  from  the  vetebrse  and  form  an 
investing  layer  over  the  origins  of  the  piriformis,  femorcaudal  and 
compressor  cloacae.  The  upper  lateral  column  is  an  extension 
backwards  of  the  longissimus  dorsi.  The  upper  median  is  a 
similar  extension  of  the  sacrolumbalis,  but  it  has  also  a  special 
origin  by  tendon  from  the  spine  of  the  ilium.  From  this  origin  a 
long  round  fascicle  enclosed  in  a  sheath  formed  of  the  rest  of  the 
muscle  beneath  runs  backward  to  a  point  at  the  eleventh  caudal 
vertebra.  The  lower  median  rises  in  conjunction  with  the  lower 
lateral  from  the  transverse  processes  of  the  first  and  succeeding 
caudal  vetebrse.  Expanding,  they  join  their  fellows  of  the  opposite 
side  on  the  basal  median  line,  overlapping  as  they  descend  the 
origin  of  the  pyriformis.  By  their  separation  they  form  the  lower 
median  and  the  lower  lateral  columns. 


BY    CHARLES    W.  DE   VIS,  B.A.  319 

Compressor  cloacce  (fig.  13 — c.  c.) — Rises  by  two  heads  ;  one 
from  the  transverse  processes  of  the  fifth  and  sixth  caudal  vertebrae, 
the  other  from  the  processes  of  the  seventh  and  ninth  ;  they  descend 
side  by  side  over  the  femoro-caudai  and  lower  lateral  caudal 
column,  and  are  inserted  into  the  side  of  the  cloacal  outlet. 

Sphincter  cloacce. — Composed  of  transverse  fibres  on  the  posterior 
aspect  of  the  cloaca. 

Transversus  i^eronei  (tig.  13 — t.  p.) — A  strong  mass  rising  from 
the  epischiatic  ossicle,  inserted  into  the  ileoischiatic  ligament 
contio-uous  to  the  insertion  of  the  semimembranosus. 


Observations. 
The  result  of  tlie  examination,  is  on  the  whole  somewhat  disap- 
pointing. The  fact  ascertained  that  the  mechanism  of  the  frill  is 
served  by  special  though  feeble  muscles,  as  well  as  by  a  large 
extension  of  the  functions  of  some  ordinary  ones,  is  nothing  sur- 
prising to  an  eye  witness  of  its  use.  Our  knowledge  of  that  use 
has  not  been  much  advanced.  The  muscles  specialised  for  the 
purpose  of  assisting  in  the  elevation  and  depression  of  the  hood  do 
not  of  themselves  indicate  very  clearly  that  the  appendage  is  in  a 
strict  sense  an  auditory  conch.  But  since  they  certainly  do  not 
forbid  the  idea  generated  by  the  presence  of  the  cartilage  and  by  the 
observed  actions  of  the  animal,  that  the  hood  may  serve  to  arrest 
sound  and  direct  it  towards  the  ear,  we  may,  if  we  can  overcome 
our  disinclination  to  attribute  an  auricle  to  a  reptile,  recognise  this 
as  part  of  its  office  without  prejudice  to  its  supposed  use  as  an 
engine  of  terror  to  assailants.  With  this  conclusion,  we  must  for 
the  present  rest  content.  Still  less  satisfaction  in  the  way  of 
discovery  has  been  derived  from  the  second  division  of  the  enquiry. 
We  may  fairly  be  allowed  an  expression  of  surprise  on  findinsj  that 
the  semierect  attitude  and  plantigrade  gait  of  the  creature  are  not 
facilitated  by  any  additions  or  modifications  in  the  hind  quarters 
and  limbs.  Thus  it  is,  however; — all  is  strictly  lacertine.  There  is 
no  approach  towards  the  conditions  existing  in  warm  blooded 
bipeds.     The  so-called  glutsei  for  instance,  are  still  in  front  of  the 


320  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    AUSTRALIAN    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

thigh  ; — the  whole  work  of  raising  the  body  is  thrown  disadvan- 
tageoiisly  upon  the  long  muscles  of  the  back  of  the  thigh.  The 
possibility  of  raising  the  body  on  the  legs  is  rather  permitted  by 
circumstances  generally  favourable  than  brought  about  by  direct 
means.  It  is  in  the  comparative  shortness  and  lightness  of 
the  head  and  anterior  part  of  the  trunk  :  the  length  without 
undue  weakness  of  the  hind  limb  :  above  all,  as  it  appears  to  me, 
in  the  imperfect  isolation  of  the  several  muscles  which  enables  them 
to  act  in  certain  directions  with  combined  strength  that  we  must 
find  an  explanation  of  the  power  possessed  by  this  lizard  of 
simulating  the  gait  of  a  cursorial  bird  ;  certain  it  is  that  in  its 
muscular  system  it  has  no  feature  relating  it  to  anything  higher 
than  its  fellow  reptiles. 


Decriptions  OF  Australian    Micro-Lepidoptera. 

By  E.  Meyrick,  B.A. 

IX.    Oecophoridae — {Continued.) 

The  following  additional  species  of  Eulechria  (besides  others) 

were  obtained  since  my  last  paper  left  my  hands,  and  are  therefore 

not  included  in  the  analytical  table  of  that  genus  ;  but  as  they 

are  closely  related  to  the  concluding  species,  they  may  be  added 

here  without  disturbing  the  systematic  arrangement.      The   first 

alone  is  of  somewhat  doubtful  affinity  ;  the  second  belongs  to  the 

group   of   Eul.    SGopai^iella ;    the    remaining   four    form  a   single 

peculiar  group,  with  the  forewings  more  elongate  and  generally 

narrower  than  in  any  others,  except  Eul.  perdita. 

108.  Eul.  leucophanes^  n,    sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  niveis,  nitidis,  margine  costali  basim  versus 
angustissime  fusco  ;  post,  dilute  albido-fuscis  ;  thorace  griseo. 

$  17-20  mm.,  ?  24  mm.  Head  white,  faintly  ochreous-tinged, 
face  fuscous.  Palpi  long,  in  ?  very  long,  fuscous,  internally  and 
at  apex  of  second  joint  whitish.  Antennae  fuscous,  tov/ards  base 
whitish.  Thorax  pale  whitish-fuscous.  Abdomen  ochreo\is 
whitish.      Legs    dark    fuscous ;    posterior  tibiae    ochreous-whitish, 


BY    E.  MEYRICK,  B.A.  321 

tarsi  somewhat  suffused  with  whitish.  Forewings  elongate, 
rather  narrow,  costa  gently  arched,  in  ?  more  strongly, 
apex  pointed,  hind  margin  extremely  oblique,  slightly  rounded  : 
snow-white,  shining ;  extreme  costal  edge  very  narrowly  dark 
fuscous,  sometimes  towards  base  only  ;  cilia  ochreous-white. 
Hindwings  very  pale  whitish-fuscous,  towards  apex  rather  darker  ; 
cilia  ochreous-whitish. 

Very  distinct  from  any  other  species  of  the  genus,  but  appar- 
ently most  allied  to  the  group  of  IJuL  sco2mrieUa  according  to  the 
long  palpi,  and  the  form  of  the  wings. 

Port  Lincoln,  South  Australia,  in  November  ;  tolerably  common 
locally  on  sandhills. 

109.  Bui   aerodes,  n.  sp. 

iMedia,  alls  ant.  griseis,  margine  costali  angustissime  albido, 
punctis  disci  tribus  serieque  postica  transversa  angulata  saturate 
fuscis  ;  post,  griseis. 

c?  ?.  21-22  mm.  Head,  thorax,  abdomen,  and  legs  fuscous- 
grey.  Palpi  long,  dark  fuscous,  second  joint  with  basal  half  and 
extreme  apex  whitish.  Antennae  dark  fuscous.  Forewings 
elongate,  costa  moderately  arched,  apex  round-pointed,  hind 
margin  extremely  obliquely  rounded  ;  light  fuscous-grey,  finely 
sprinkled  with  darker;  extreme  costal  edge  narrowly  ochreous- 
whitish  except  at  extremities  ;  a  dark  fuscous  dot  in  disc  before 
middle,  a  second  beyond  middle,  and  a  third  on  fold  rather  beyond 
first ;  a  row  of  dark  fuscous  dots  from  costa  about  f  to  close  before 
apex,  thence  sharply  bent  and  continued  very  near  hind  margin  to 
anal  angle  ;  two  or  three  dark  fuscous  marginal  dots  round  aj)ex  ; 
cilia  light  fuscous-grey.  Hindwings  fuscous-grey  ;  cilia  grey,  with 
a  faint  darker  line. 

Closely  allied  to  Eul.  siccella,  but  with  the  ground  colour  darker, 
without  coarse  blackish  irroration,  the  costal  edge  sharply  whitish, 
and  the  hindwings  darker ;  it  also  resembles  somewhat  Uicl. 
paurogramma,  but  is  immediately  separated  by  the  grey  head. 

Deloraine  and  Evandale,  Tasmania,  in  November ;  four  speci- 
mens. 


322  DESCRIPTIONS    OF   AUSTRALIAN    MICRO- LEPIDOPTERA, 

110.  Eul.  tanyscia,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  saturate  iuscis,  S  clisco  cano-suffuso,  punctis 
disci  quatuor  lineaque  postica  curva  nigricantibus ;  post,  saturate 
fuscis,  c?  subtus  flavidis. 

(?  ? .  16-25  mm  Head,  thorax,  and  abdomen  dark  fuscous- 
grey,  slightly  mixed  with  whitish.  Palpi  rather  short,  dark 
fuscous,  second  joint  white  towards  the  base.  Antennae  dark 
fuscous.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  apex  of  tarsal  joints  white,  middle 
tibiae  with  central  and  apical  ochreous-whitish  rings,  hairs  of 
posterior  tibiae  whitish-ochreous.  Forewings  elongate,  costa  in  S 
hardly  arched,  in  ?  moderately,  apex  rounded,  hind  margin  very 
obliquely  rounded ;  dark  fuscous,  in  ?  coarsely  irrorated  with 
whitish-grey,  in  c?  irrorated  with  white  and  more  or  less  conspi- 
cuously suffused  with  white  towards  disc ;  a  blackish  crescentic 
dot  in  disc  before  middle,  a  small  round  dot  above  middle,  a 
crescentic  mark  beyond  middle,  and  a  small  spot  on  fold  hardly 
beyond  first  dot ;  a  strongly  curved  dark  fuscous  transverse  line 
from  a  cloudy  darker  spot  on  costa  ^  to  anal  angle,  where  is 
sometimes  another  darker  spot ;  cilia  with  basal  half  barred 
alternately  with  dark  fuscous  and  whitish,  terminal  half  grey. 
Hindwings  dark  fuscous,  under  surface  in  <?  dull  light  yellowish- 
ochreous,  in  ?  dark  fuscous  ;  cilia  fuscous-grey,  with  a  darker  line 
near  base. 

The  sexes  are  at  first  sight  very  dissimilar  ;  the  J  resembles 
in  colouring  the  group  oi  Eul.  adoxella,  but  is  immediately  separated 
by  the  nearly  strait  costa,  and  the  yellowish  under  surface  of  the 
hindwings;  the  ?  is  more  like  Eul.  siccella,  but  is  easily  recog- 
nisable by  the  uniform  dark  colouring. 

Both  sexes  taken  plentifully  at  Mount  Gambler,  South  Aus- 
tralia, at  rest  on  the  trunks  of  Eucalyptus  Gunnii  in  November  ; 
also  met  with  at  Adelaide  in  October. 

111.  Eul.  omhrophora,  n.  sp. 
Minor,  alis  ant,  elongatis,   albidis,   leviter  griseo-irroratis,  vitta 
costali  grisea,  punctis  disci  quinque  (postrerao  transverso)  lineaque 
postica  curva  saepius  obsoleta  saturate  fuscis  ;  post   griseis. 


liY    E.  MEYRICK,  B.A.  323 

(?  9.  10-15  mm.  Head  and  thorax  white,  mixed  with  grey. 
Palpi  short,  second  joint  dark  fuscous,  terminal  joint  whitish,  more 
or  less  mixed  with  dark  fuscous.  Antennae  grey.  Abdomen  pale 
grey,  anal  tuft  of  S  pale  whitish-ochreous.  Legs  dark  fuscous- 
grey,  tarsal  joints  with  obscure  ochreous-whitish  apical  rings ; 
hairs  of  posterior  tibiae  ochreous-whitish.  Fore  wings  elongate, 
narrow,  costa  in  c?  almost  straight,  in  ?  gently  arched,  apex 
rounded,  hindmargin  extremely  obliquely  rounded  ;  whitish,  thinly 
and  irregularly  irrorated  with  fuscous-grey  ;  an  irregular  fuscous- 
grey  streak  along  costa  ;  a  dark  fuscous  sometimes  double  dot  in 
disc  before  middle,  two  others  longitudinally  placed  above  middle, 
a  trans  v^erse  mark  beyond  middle,  and  an  elongate  dot  on  fold 
somewhat  beyond  first ;  these  are  generally  rather  ill-defined  ;  a 
strongly  curved  transverse  posterior  grey  line  from  an  inwardly 
oblique  spot  on  costa  at  5  to  anal  angle,  often  almost  obsolete  ; 
cilia  whitish,  irrorated  with  dark  fuscous  towards  base.  Hind- 
wings  grey,  rather  paler  towards  base  ;  cilia  pale  whitish-grey, 
with  a  faint  darker  line  near  base. 

This  and  the  next  species  are  very  closely  allied,  but  I  think 
distinct ;  U.  ombrophora  is  considerably  smaller,  the  discal  dots 
larger  and  differently  placed,  the  first  dot  being  lower  in  the  disc, 
two  dots  above  the  middle  instead  of  one,  the  transverse  mark 
beyond  middle  not  divided  into  two  dots,  the  posterior  line  more 
defined,  and  the  terminal  joint  of  palpi  more  or  less  whitish  exter- 
nally. 

Quorn,  South  Australia,  in  October  ;  rather  common. 

112.  3ul.  sciophanes,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  elongatis,  albidis,  leviter  griseo-irroratis,  vitta 
costali  grisea,  punctis  disci  quatour,  (postremo  duplici)  saepe 
obsoletis  nigris ;  post,  dilute  griseis. 

c?  ?.  17-21  mm.  Head  and  thorax  white,  slightly  mixed  with 
grey.  Palpi  short,  dark  fuscous,  internally  whitish.  Antennse 
light  grey.  Abdomen  long,  pale  whitish-ochreous.  Legs  dark 
fuscous,  apex  of  tarsal  joints  obscurely  ochreous-whitish,  hairs  of 
posterior    tibiae    very     pale     whitish-ochreous.       Forewings    very 


324  DESCRIPTIONS    OF   AUSTRALIAN   MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

elongate,  narrow,  costa  in  cf  hardly  arched,  in  ?  more  distinctly, 
apex  rounded,  hiudmargin  extremely  obliquely  rounded  ;  whitish, 
very  finely  and  scantily  sprinkled  with  fuscous-grey  ;  a  fuscous- 
grey  streak  along  costa  ;  a  minute  black  dot  beneath  this  before 
middle,  a  second  in  middle,  two  transversely  placed  in  disc  beyond 
middle,  and  a  short  fine  longitudinal  mark  on  fold  beneath  first 
dot,  all  sometimes  obsolete  ;  sometimes  indications  of  a  dentate 
strongly-curved  transverse  grey  line  near  hind  margin ;  cilia 
whitish,  sprinkled  with  fuscous-grey  towards  base.  Hind  wings 
light  fuscous-grey  ;  cilia  fuscous-whitish. 

The  points  of  distinction  from  Eul.  omhrophora  are  given  above. 

Quorn,  South  Australia,  in  October  \  tolerably  common. 

113.   Eld.   aceraea^  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  elongatis,  canis ;  post,  griseis,  ciliis  albido- 
ochreis. 

cf.  16-19  mm.  Head  and  thorax  clear  white,  face  slightly 
mixed  with  grey.  Palpi  rather  short,  dark  fuscous,  internally  and 
at  base  and  apex  of  second  joint  white.  Antennse  dark  fuscous. 
Abdomen  long,  pale  whitish-ochreous  tinged  with  grey.  Legs  dark 
fuscous,  posterior  pair  jiale  whitish-ochreous  above.  Forewings 
elongate,  narrow,  costa  sliglitly  or  hardly  arched,  apex  pointed, 
hind  mai'gin  excessively  oblique  ;  clear  white  ;  cilia  white.  Hind- 
wings  grey,  paler  towards  base,  under  surface  whitish-ochreous  ; 
cilia  pale  whitish-ochreous,  more  ochreous  towards  base. 

Nearly  related  to  the  preceding,  but  very  distinct. 

Petersburg,  South  Australia,  in  October;  three  specimens 
amongst  thin  barren  scrub. 

16.  Atomotricha  Meyr. 

Antennse  in  cf  moderate,  with  fine  long  ciliations  (5),  six  at 
apex  of  each  joint,  basal  joint  with  strong  pecten.  Palpi  rather 
long,  second  joint  exceeding  base  of  antennae,  densely  scaled,  some- 
what rough  beneath,  terminal  joint  shorter  than  second,  slender, 
recurved.  Thorax  smooth.  Forewings  elongate,  surface  with  tufts 
of  raised  scales.     Hindwings  as  broad  as  forewings,  elongate-ovate, 


BY    E.  MEYRICK,  B.A.  325 

hind  margin  rounded,  cilia  5.  Wings  of  ^  abbreviated,  incapable 
of  flight.  Forewings  with  vein  7  to  apex,  2  from  hardly  before 
angle.      Hindwings  normal. 

The  characters  of  this  and  other  genera  peculiar  to  l^ew  Zealand 
are  given  more  fully  in  a  paper  in  the  Transactions  of  the  New 
Zealand  Institute  for  this  year ;  all  the  New  Zealand  species  are 
also  there  described.  This  and  the  following  genus  are  closely 
allied,  but  their  exact  origin  is  uncertain  ;  their  relationship  with 
Eulechria  is  however  obvious.  The  semi-apterous  $  is  remark- 
able ;  not  improbably  a  similar  character  may  recur  in  Brachysara, 
of  which  that  sex  is  still  unknown. 

114.    Atom,  ommatias,  Meyr. 

Media,  alls  ant.  fuscis.  saturatiori  nebulosis,  signis  disci  tribus 
arcuatis  lineaque  postica  transversa  obscuris  saturatioribus  ;  post, 
albido-griseis. 

Christchurch,  New  Zealand,  in  August  and  September ;  rather 
common. 

17.  Brachysara  Meyr. 

Antennae  in  cT  moderate,  with  fine  long  ciliations  (5),  eight  at 
apex  of  each  joint,  basal  joint  with  strong  pecten.  Palpi  short, 
second  joint  not  nearly  reaching  base  of  antenna,  with  short  loose 
rough  hairs  beneath,  somewhat  projecting  anteriorly,  terminal 
joint  short,  slender,  curved.  Thorax  smooth.  Forewings  elongate. 
Hindwings  as  broad  as  foi'ewings,  elongate-ovate,  hind  margin  very 
faintly  sinuate,  cilia  1.  Forewings  with  vein  7  to  apex,  2  from 
hardly  before  angle.      Hindwings  normal. 

115.   Brack,  sordida.  Butl. 
(Oecophora  sordida,  Butl.,  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.,  1877,  405.^ 
Media,  alls  ant.  angustis,  dilute  fuscis,  vitta  media  nigricante 

interdum  obsoleta,  signis   disci  duobus  arcuatis  lineaque  postica 

transversa  obscuris  saturatioribus  ;  post,  albidis. 

Near  Christchurch,  New  Zealand ;  formerly  taken  abundantly 

18.  Leistarcha   Meyr. 

Head  with  appressed  hairs,  sidetufts  rather  short,  appressed. 
Antennae  in  $  moderate,  strongly  ciliated  (1  J),  basal  joint  moderate, 


326  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    AUSTRALIAN    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

without  pecten.  Palpi  long,  second  joint  exceeding  base  of 
antennae,  evenly  thickened  with  dense  appressed  scales,  terminal 
joint  as  long  as  second,  moderately  stout,  strongly  recurved. 
Thorax  smooth.  Forewings  elongate,  apex  acute,  hindmargin 
sinuate,  very  oblique.  Hindwings  as  broad  as  forewings,  elongate- 
ovate,  hindmargin  very  faintly  sinuate,  cilia  J.  Abdomen  stout, 
very  strongly  margined.  Middle  tibias  thickened  with  rough 
hairs;  posterior  tibiae  clothed  with  dense  rough  hairs,  posterior 
tarsi  with  basal  joint  excessively  elongate,  rather  stout.  Forewings 
with  vein  7  to  hindmargin,  2  from  hardly  before  angle.  Hind- 
wings  normal. 

I  am  now  satisfied  that  this  genus  is  wrongly  placed  in  this 
neighbourhood,  and  should  be  transferred  to  a  position  between 
Eochroa  and  Zonopetala.  It  is  closely  allied  to  Eochroa  in  most 
respects,  but  in  the  absence  of  the  basal  pecten  of  the  antennae  it 
approaches  Zonopetala  and  the  succeeding  genera.  The  persistence 
of  the  rosy  tinge  in  the  cilia,  especially  beneath,  is  an  interesting 
indication  of  affinity.  The  singularly  elongated  basal  joint  of  the 
posterior  tarsi  is  unique,  and  I  have  had  no  opportunity  of 
observing  its  object.  The  habits  of  the  larva  are  known,  and  are 
also  peculiar. 

116.  Leist.  iobola,  n.  sp. 

Magna,  alis  ant.  fuscis,  creberrime  albido-conspersis,  venis  albidis, 
vittis  duabus  anticis,  tertia  postica,  quarta  dorsi  saturate  fuscis  ; 
post,  griseis ;    ciliis  omnibus  leviter  roseo-suffusis. 

cf.  31  mm.  Head  fuscous-grey,  on  sides  ochreous-whitish. 
Palpi  whitish,  somewhat  mixed  with  dark  fuscous,  with  basal 
half  of  second  joint  externally  dark  fuscous.  Antennae  whitish. 
Thorax  fuscous-grey.  Abdomen  grey,  anal  tuft  ochreous-tinged. 
Anterior  and  middle  legs  dark  fuscous,  beneath  white  ;  posterior 
legs  whitish,  tarsi  mixed  with  ochreous-grey.  Forewings  elongate, 
costa  moderately  arched,  apex  acute,  hindmargin  markedly  sinuate, 
rather  strongly  oblique ;  dark  fuscous,  very  closely  strewn  with 
very  elongate  whitish  scales  ;  all  veins  and  extreme  costal  margin 
slenderly  whitish  ;  a  clear  dark  fuscous  streak  above  cell  from 
base  to  before  middle,  thence  obscurely  continued  between  veins 


( 


BY    E.   MEYRICK,  B.A.  327 

to  costa  before  apex  ;  a  dark  fuscous-streak  beneath  cell  almost 
■  from  base  to  middle  ;  a  sharply  defined  dark  fuscous  streak  from 
middle  of  disc  to  hindmargin  beneath  apex  ;  a  slender  dark  fuscous 
streak  along  inner  margin  from  near  base  to  middle  of  hindmargin, 
broader  on  anal  angle  and  attenuated  thence,  sharply  interrupted 
by  veins  ;  cilia  fuscous,  becoming  white  towards  tips,  suJSPused  with 
light  rosy,  especially  above  apex  j  on  undersurface  rosy  tinge  much 
stronger.  Hindwiugs  fuscous-grey,  rather  lighter  towards  base  ; 
cilia  grey,  towards  apex  with  tips  whitish  and  base  pale  rosy. 

This  fine  species  is  coloured  in  admii-able  imitation  of  the  fibrous 
bark  of  the  Eucalyptus  on  which  it  lives. 

Larva  16-legged,  very  elongate,  cylindrical,  slightly  tapering 
towards  both  ends  ;  whitish-grey,  segmental  divisions  ochreous- 
tinged  ;  dorsal  very  slender,  greyish-fuscous,  anteriorly  lighter  and 
more  gi^eenish  ;  subdorsal  rather  broad,  rather  dark  greyish- 
fuscous  ;  spiracular  slender,  irregular,  greyish-fuscous  ;  spiracles 
grey-whitish,  enclosed  in  a  fuscous  ring ;  spots  minute,  black  ; 
head  very  pale  reddish-ochreous ;  irregularly  marked  with  dark 
reddish-fuscous  spots  ;  second  segment  whitish-grey,  thinly  speckled 
with  dark  fuscous  ;  anal  segment  speckled  with  dark  fuscous,  with 
subdorsal  lines  indicated.  Feeds  on  Eucalyptus  amygdalina 
(Myrtacece)^  concealing  itself  beneath  loose  bark,  to  which  it 
attaches  with  silk  the  leaves  on  which  it  is  feeding. 

I  found  a  single  ]arva  near  Picton,  New  South  Wales,  at  about 
1000  feet,  in  September,  and  bred  the  imago  in  December. 

19.  Oenochroa  Meyr. 

Head  with  appressed  hairs,  sidetufts  rather  small,  appressed. 
Antennse  in  $  moderate,  moderately  and  evenly  ciliated  (1),  basal 
joint  stout,  with  strong  pecten.  Palpi  moderately  long,  second 
joint  exceeding  base  of  antennas,  with  appressed  scales,  strongly 
dilated  beneath  towards  apex  with  somewhat  rough  laterally 
compressed  scales,  terminal  joint  rather  shorter  than  second,  slender, 
recurved.  Thorax  with  a  small  posterior  crest  of  scales.  Fore- 
wings  elongate,  moderate,  apex  pointed,  hindmargin  very  oblique, 
slightly    rounded.      Hindwings   rather  narrower  than  forewings, 


328  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    AUSTRALIAN    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

elongate-ovate,  hindmargin  slightly  rounded,  cilia  f.  Abdomen 
moderate,  strongly  margined.  Posterior  tibiae  clothed  with  very 
long  dense  hairs  above.  Forewings  with  vein  7  to  apex,  2  from 
somewhat  befoie  angle  of  cell.     Hind  wings  normal. 

Probably  a  direct  development  from  Eulechria,  from  which  it 
differs  by  the  thoracic  crest,  and  dilation  of  apex  of  second  joint  of 
the  palpi ;  the  $  of  Oen.  iobajy/ies  closely  approaches  the  group  of 
Eul.  adoxella. 

I  have  three  species,  thus  distinguished  :  — 
la.   Forewings  with  a  cloudy  pale  anterior  fascia....  11 8.  endochlora 
lb.  ,,  without  pale  fascia. 

2a.  Hindwings  clear  yellow 117.  lactella 

2b.         „  more  or  less  suffused  with  fuscous...  119.  iohaj)hes 

117.   Oen.  lactella,  Walk. 

{Gelechia  lactella,  Walk.,  Brit.  T^lus.  Cat.,  648.) 

Media,  alls  ant.  saturatius  griseis,  macula  plicae  ante  medium 
punctisque  disci  quatuor  nigris,  macula  anguli  analis  lineisque 
duabus  posticis  transversis  obsoletis  saturatioribus  ;  post,  ochreo- 
flavis,  apice  ciliisque  griseis. 

$  ¥.  20-23  mm.  Head,  palpi,  antennce,  and  thorax  dark  grey, 
base  of  palpi  whitish.  Abdomen  ochreous-yellow.  Anterior  and 
middle  legs  dark  grey;  posterior  legs  whitish-yellow,  tarsal  joints 
greyish  towards  base.  Forewings  elongate,  costa  moderately 
arched,  apex  round-pointed,  hindmargin  very  oblique,  slightly 
rounded  ;  rather  dark  slaty-grey,  finely  and  irregularly  irrorated 
with  bluish-whitish  points  ;  a  very  ill-defined  small  roundish 
blackish  blotch  on  fold  at  J  ;  a  faint  dark  fuscous  spot  on  costa 
at  J  ;  a  blackish  dot  in  disc  before  middle,  two  others  transversely 
placed  and  nearly  confluent  beyond  middle,  and  a  fourth  below 
middle  ;  an  irregular  ill-defined  blackish-grey  blotch  on  anal  angle  ; 
a  very  indistinct  blackish-grey  line  from  costa  at  |-  obliquely 
outwards,  sharply  bent  in  disc  and  terminating  in  anal  blotch,  and 
another  similar  line  intermediate  between  this  and  hindmargin, 
both  sometimes  obsolete  ;  cilia  grey.  Hindwings  clear  ochreous- 
yellow,  extreme  apex  dark  fuscous-grey  ;  cilia  fuscous-grey. 


BY    E.  MEYRICK,  B.A.  329 

Characterised  by  the  clear  yellow  hindwings,  and  blackish  spot 
on  fold. 

Mr.  G.  H.  Raynor  once  bred  this  species  from  an  undescril:)ed 
larva  feeding  between  joined  leaves  of  a  species  of  Eucalyptus. 

Brisbane  and  Sydney,  in  September  and  March  ;  not   common. 

I  suspect  Walker  may  have  intended  to  call  this  species  Icetella. 

118.   Oen.  enclochlora,  n.  sp. 

Minor,  alis  ant.  saturate  griseis,  fascia  antica  curv^a  discoque 
exalbido-sufFusis,  punctis  disci  quinque,  macula  anguli  analis, 
lineisque  duabus  posticis  trans versis  obsoletis  saturate  griseis ; 
post,  albido-flavis  griseisve,  apice  ciliisque  griseis. 

$  ?.  14-16  mm.  Head  dark  grey,  margins  ochreous  whitish. 
Palpi  dark  grey,  somewhat  mixed  with  ochreous-whitish.  Antennae 
dark  fuscous.  Thorax  dark  fuscous,  slightly  mixed  with  ochreous- 
whitish.  Abdomen  whitish-ochreous  or  light  yellowish-ochreous. 
Legs  dark  fuscous,  apex  of  middle  tibiae  and  tarsal  joints  obscurely 
whitish-ochreous,  posterior  legs  pale  yellowish-ochreous  above. 
Forewings  elongate,  costa  moderately  arched,  apex  round-pointed, 
hind  margin  very  oblique,  slightly  rounded  ;  dark  fuscous-grey  or 
blackish-grey,  more  or  less  irrorated  with  very  pale  yellowish-grey 
or  whitish-scales  ;  these  generally  coalesce  to  form  a  rather  broad 
strongly  outwards -curved  transverse  fascia  from  ^  of  costa  to  ^  of 
inner  margin,  and  often  a  more  or  less  defined  discal  suffusion, 
sometimes  extending  to  hindmargin  ',  on  this  the  ground  colour 
appears  to  form  two  dots  before  middle,  two  beyond  middle,  a 
fifth  below  middle,  a  spot  on  anal  angle,  and  two  posterior  sinuate 
transverse  lines ;  cilia  dark  fuscous,  becoming  whitish-fuscous 
towards  tips.  Hindwings  varying  from  whitish-yellow  to  grey, 
base  lighter,  apex  dark  gray ;  cilia  grey,  sometimes  yellowish- 
tinged. 

Distinguished  by  its  small  size,  and  the  curved  anterior  fascia. 
The  variability  of  colour  in  the  hindwings  is  a  remarkable  feature, 
and  is  entirely  irrespective  of  sex,  but  seems  to  be  influenced  by 
locality ;  Quorn  specimens  have  them  usually  more  yellow  than 
those  taken  at  Wirrabara,  which  are  mostly,  grey. 


330 


DESCRIPTIONS    OF    AUSTRALIAN    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 


Mr.  F.  Gr,  0,  Tepper  has  bred  this  species  from  galls  on 
Eucalyptus  oleosa. 

Quorn,  Wirrabara,  and  Androssau,  South  Australia,  in  October  ; 
common. 

119.    Oen.  iobaphes,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alls  ant,  $  saturate  griseis,  macula  costa  elongata  media 
albido-conspersa,  9  griseis,  albido-sparsis,  serie  punctorum  quinque 
antica,.  tribus  disci  posticis  lineaque  transv^ersa  nigrantibus  ;  post, 
fuscis,  $  basim  versus  ochreo  suflfusis. 

19-21  mm.  $.  Head,  palpi,  antennas,  and  thorax  dark  grey, 
somewhat  sprinkled  with  bluish-whitish,  face  suffused  with 
whitish.  Abdomen  light  yellowish-ochreous,  somewhat  greyish- 
tinged.  Anterior  and  middle  legs  dark  fuscous;  posterior  legs 
whitish-ochreous.  Forewings  elongate,  costa  gently  arched,  apex 
round-pointed,  hindmargin  straight,  extremely  oblique ;  dark 
fuscous-grey,  with  two  or  three  scattered  bluish-whitish  scales 
posteriorly  ;  an  elongate  semi-oval  costal  blotch  of  thickly-strewn 
bluish-whitish  scales,  extending  along  costa  from  5  to  f  ;  a  faint 
blackish  spot  on  fold  at  J  :  cilia  fuscous-grey,  towards  tips  paler 
and  ochreous- tinged.  Hindwings  smoky- ochreous,  posteriorly 
somewhat  suffused  with  fuscous,  apex  dark  fuscous-grey ;  cilia 
grey,  base  ochreous. 

$ .  Forewings  rather  more  elongate  ;  grey,  irrorated  throughout 
with  whitish  ;  extreme  costal  edge  white  ;  a  few  scattered  blackish 
scales  near  base  ;  five  black  dots  forming  a  slightly  inwards-curved 
row  from  beneath  I  of  costa  to  above  I  of  inner  margin  ;  a  black 
dot  below  middle  of  disc,  and  two  others  transversely  placed 
beyond  middle ;  a  minute  whitish  spot  on  costa  in  middle,  and 
another  at  f ,  each  followed  by  a  few  blackish  scales  ;  from  apex  of 
second  proceeds  a  strongly  outwards-curved  blackish  line  to  inner 
margin  before  anal  angle  :  cilia  grey,  irrorated  with  whitish. 
Hindwings  fuscous-grey,  base  somewhat  ochreous-tinged  ;  cilia 
grey,  extreme  base  ochreous. 

The  sexes  are  at  first  sight  very  dissimilar,  owing  to  the  dark 
suffusion  of  the  $ . 


BY    E.  MEYRICK,  B.A.  331 

Sydney  and  Murnirundi,  New  South  Wales,  in  November ; 
three  specimens  (1  ^,2  9). 

20.  Machetis  Meyr. 

Head  densely  scaled,  sidetufts  large,  meeting,  projecting  some- 
what ovei'  face.  Antennae  in  $  rather  stout,  somewhat  serrate, 
with  short  uneven  cilia  (J),  basal  joint  rather  stout,  in  $  more 
elongate,  without  pecten.  Palpi  long,  second  joint  exceeding  base 
of  antennae,  strongly  thickened  with  dense  appressed  scales, 
slighly  loose  beneath  ;  terminal  joint  shorter  than  second,  strongly 
reflexed,  slender.  Thorax  with  dense  erect  crest.  Forewings 
elongate,  moderate,  apex  'obtuse,  hindmargin  obliquely  rounded. 
Hindwings  hardly  narrower  than  forewings,  elongate-ovate,  hind- 
margin  rounded,  cilia  |.  Abdomen  rather  stout,  strongly 
margined.  Posterior  tibse  clothed  with  very  long  hairs.  Forewings 
with  vein  7  below  apex,  2  from  before  angle  of  cell.  Hindwings 
normal. 

Apparently  most  allied  to  Oenochroa,  and  probably  a  develop- 
ment of  it,  but  this  is  by  no  means  certain  ;  it  differs  from  all  the 
neighbouring  genera  by  the  termination  of  vein  7  in  the  hind- 
margin  ;  in  the  short  ciliation  of  the  antennae,  and  absence  of  the 
basal  pecten,  it  resembles  Sphyrelata. 

120.  Mach.  wphrobola,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  saturate  ochreo-fuscis,  maculis  costse  duabus 
magnis,  dorsi  duabus  anticis  conjunctus,  strigulaque  anguli  analis 
niveis  ;  post,  dilutissime  flavidis,  apicem  versus  griseis. 

$  $.  15J-19.  mm.  Head  snow-white.  Palpi  white,  densely 
irrorated  with  dark  fuscous  except  on  outer  side  of  terminal  joint, 
and  apex  of  second  joint.  Antenna  whitish,  suffusadly  annulated 
with  dark  fuscous.  Thorax  dark  fuscous,  with  a  white  posterior 
spot.  Abdomen  whitish-ochreous.  Anterior  and  middle  legs  dark 
fuscous,  tarsal  joints  with  whitish  apical  rings ;  posterior  legs 
whitish-ochreous.  Forewings  moderate,  costa  gently  arched,  apex 
round-pointed,  hindmargin  obliquely  rounded;  dark  ochreous- 
fuscous,    lighter   in   middle  of   disc;  a   large   rounded-triangular 


332  DESCRIPTIONS    OF   AUSTRALIAN    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

white  costal  blotch,  extending  on  costa  from  near  base  to  middle,  its 
apex  reaching  more  than  half  across  wing,  along  costa  mixed  with 
dark  fuscous  ;  a  semi-oval  white  blotch  on  inner  margin  about  basal 
third,  and  a  smaller  irregularly-triangular  posteriorly  ill-defined 
white  spot  on  the  middle  of  inner  margin,  confluent  on  margin  ; 
sometimes  three  or  four  irregularly -placed  very  small  dark  fuscous 
spots  on  disc,  partially  surrounded  with  white  scales  ;  an  irregular 
somewhat  pentagonal  white  blotch  on  costa  at  f ,  its  apex  produced 
as  an  irregular  ill-defined  white  streak  to  anal  angle  ;  a  very  small 
ill-defined  white  apical  spot  ;  cilia  dark  fuscous,  with  two  white 
transverse  bars  towards  apex,  a  larger  white  spot  at  anal  angle, 
and  three  ill-defined  whitish  bars  between  these.  Hindwings  very 
pale  whitish-yellow,  towards  apex  sufiii&ed  with  grey ;  cilia  very 
pale  whitish-yellow,  with  an  indistinct  grey  line  round  apex. 

A  very  distinct  and  conspicuous  species. 

Sydney  and  Hobart,  from  October  to  December ;  rather  common, 
usually  at  rest  on  fences. 

21.  Placocosma  Meyr. 

Head  smooth,  sidetufts  large,  spreading,  meeting  behind. 
Antennae  in  $  moderate,  somewhat  serrate,  rather  strongly  ciliated 
(1  J),  basal  joint  rather  stout,  with  strong  pecten.  Palpi  moderate, 
second  joint  not  reaching  base  of  antennae,  somewhat  dilated  with 
dense  appressed  scales,  distinctly  rough  beneath,  terminal  joint  as 
lon^  as  second,  moderate,  recurved.  Thorax  with  a  dense  posterior 
crest.  Forewings  elongate,  moderate,  apex  obtusely  pointed, 
hindmargin  almost  straight  or  slightly  concave.  Hindwings  hardly 
narrower  than  forewings,  elongate-ovate,  hindmargin  rounded, 
cilia  |.  Abdomen  moderate.  Posterior  tibiae  clothed  with  long 
dense  hairs  above.  Forewings  with  vein  7  to  aj^ex,  2  from  some- 
what before  angle.     Hindwings  normal. 

Structurally  this  genus  very  closely  approaches  Oenochroa, 
difiering  in  little  but  the  absence  of  the  rough  dilation  towards  the 
apex  of  the  second  joint  of  the  palpi  ;  they  are  perhaps  collateral 
developments.  Superficially  there  is  little  resemblance  betwcjen 
them,  the  species  of  Placocosma  being  handsomely  marked  with 
large  white  blotches. 


BY    E.  MEYRICK,  B.A.  333 

la.   Thorax  dark  fuscous 121.   hejjhaestea. 

lb.        „        orange-ochreous 122.   anthopetala. 

121.  Plac.  heiyJiaestea,  n.  sp. 
Minor,   alls  ant.  saturate  fuscis,  macula  dorsi  antica  permagna, 
altera  costse  media  parva,  strigaque  ante-apicali  curva  dilutissime 
flavidis,  niveo-marginatis,  macula  dorsi  postica  dilute  rufa  ;  post, 
aurantiacis,  postice  leviter  fusco-tinctis. 

$  ?.  14-15^  mm.  Head  white,  margin  of  eyes  dark  fuscous, 
crown  faintly  yellowish-tinged.  Palpi  white,  basal  half  of  second 
joint  externally  dark  fuscous.  Antennae  dark  fuscous.  Thorax 
dark  fuscous,  with  small  white  posterior  spot.  Abdomen  orange- 
ochreous,  somewhat  suffused  above  with  fuscous.  Anterior  and 
middle  legs  dark  fuscous,  apex  of  joints  whitish-ochreous  ;  posterior 
legs  ochreous,  tarsal  joints  greyish  towards  base.  Forewings 
moderate,  costa  gently  arched,  apex  round,  pointed,  hindmargin 
slightly  sinuate,  oblique  ;  dark  fuscous ;  a  large  yellowish-white 
blotch,  margined  with  pure  white,  extending  on  inner  margin 
almost  from  base  to  middle,  its  posterior  edge  slightly  convex,  its 
upper  edge  very  near  and  parallel  to  costa  ;  a  rather  small  semi- 
circular white  spot,  posteriorly  yellowish-tinged,  on  costa  slightly 
beyond  middle  ;  an  ill-defined  pale  reddish-fuscous  blotch  towards 
anal  angle,  posteriorly  mixed  with  darker  fuscous,  and  containing 
two  small  spots  of  pale  yellowish  scales ;  an  ill-defined  inwards- 
curved  slender  white,  posteriorly  pale  yellowish,  streak  from  costa 
at  I  5o  hind  margin  below  middle  ;  cilia  dark  fuscous,  suffused  with 
blackish,  with  a  large  pale  yellowish  spot  on  middle  of  hindmargin, 
towards  base  pure  white,  rather  narrower,  and  bisected  by  a  short 
dark  fuscous  line,  cilia  towards  anal  angle  mixed  with  reddish- 
fuscous.  Hindwings  ochreous-orange,  slightly  fuscous-tinged 
towards  apex  j  cilia  fuscous  grey. 

A  very  distinct  and  handsome  insect. 

Sydney,  in  November  and  December  ;  four  specimens  in  gardens. 

122.  Flac.    anthoiMala,  n.  sp. 
Minor,  alis  ant.  saturate  fuscis,  fascia  antica  lata  recta,   maculae 
costse  media,  altera  apicis,  tertia  anguli  analis  riveis;  post,  griseis. 


334  DESCRIPTIONS    OF   AUSTRALIAN    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

(?  14  mm.,  $  19  mm.  Head  orange-ochreous,  face  paler.  Palpi 
whitisli-orange,  basal  half  of  second  joint  externally  and  extreme 
apex  of  terminal  joint  dark  fuscous.  Antennae  dark  fuscous. 
Thorax  ochreous-orange,  anterior  margin  very  narrowly,  a  small 
lateral  spot,  and  larger  posterior  spot  dark  fuscous.  Abdomen 
whitish-ochreous,  anal  tuft  orange-ochreous.  Anterior  and  middle 
legs  dark  fuscous,  apex  of  joints  ochreous  ;  posterior  legs  whitish- 
orange-ochreous,  tarsal  joints  greyish  towards  base.  Forewings 
moderate,  costa  moderately  arched,  apex  round-pointed,  hind- 
margin  oblique,  hardly  rounded  ;  dark  fuscous,  with  a  slight 
ochreous  tinge  in  disc  posteriorly  ;  a  broad  straight  white  or 
ochreous-white  transverse  fascia  from  ^  of  costa  to  ^  of  inner 
margin,  somewhat  contracted  on  costa ;  a  white  semi-oval  spot  on 
costa  slightly  beyond  middle,  on  costal  edge  whitish-ochreous, 
reaching  half  across  wing,  a  white  triangular  spot  on  inner  margin 
before  anal  angle  reaching  half  across  wing,  its  apex  a  little 
beyond  that  of  costal  spot ;  a  larger  irregularly  quadrilateral  white 
apical  spot,  on  costal  edge  whitish-ochreous,  leaving  a  slender  dark 
fuscous  streak  along  hindmarginal  edge,  its  anterior  and  lower 
edges  parallel  to  posterior  edges  of  costal  and  dorsal  spots  re- 
spectively, its  lower  posterior  angle  produced  into  a  short  tooth  ; 
cilia  dark  fuscous,  beneath  anal  angle  and  on  costa  above  apical 
spot  whitish-ochreous.  Hindwings  fuscous-grey  ;  cilia  fuscous-grey, 
above  apex  whitish-ochreous  mixed  with  grey. 

Also  not  to  be  confused  with  any  other. 

Sydney,  in  November  and  December  ;  two  specimens  amongst 
lyscru  .  22    Allodoxa,  Meyr. 

I  am  now  of  opinion  that  this  genus  ought  to  be  referred  to  the 
Gly2yhi2}terygidcB ;  I  do  not  possess  a  male  of  either  of  the  two 
species  belonging  to  it,  and  I  anticipate  that  the  antennae  will  be 
found  not  to  be  ciliated.  The  genus  nearly  approaches  Eiqoselia, 
and  is  discordant  in  this  family  from  the  11-veined  forewings. 
The  removal  will  make  Atelosticha  the  only  1 1-veined  genus  of  the 
family,  to  which  it  is  nevertheless  without  doubt  truly  referable. 
I  do  not  propose  therefore  to  describe  the  species  of  Allodoxa  here, 
and  it  may  be  struck  out. 


BY    E.  MEYRICK,  B.A.  335 

23.  Petalanthes   Meyr. 

Head  smooth,  sidetufts  rather  small,  appressed.  Antennae 
moderate,  in  $  with  long  fine  cilia  (3-4),  basal  joint  rather 
elongate,  moderate,  with  thin  pecten.  Palpi  rather  long,  second 
joint  reaching  or  somewhat  exceeding  base  of  antennae,  densely 
scaled,  somewhat  loosely  beneath,  terminal  joint  as  long  as  second, 
slender,  recurved.  Thorax  smooth.  Fore  wings  elongate,  narrow, 
apex  obtuse,  hindmargin  very  obliquely  rounded.  Hindwings 
slightly  narrower  than  tbrewings,  elongate-ovate,  hindmargin 
rounded,  cilia  |,  scaled  at  base.  Abdomen  moderate.  Middle 
tibise  with  a  dense  median  whorl  of  projecting  hairs  ;  posterior 
tibiae  with  short  stiff  hair-scales.  Fore  wings  with  vein  7  to  hind- 
margin.     Hindwings  normal. 

I  am  unable  to  satisfy  myself  as  to  the  affinity  of  this  curious 
genus,  concerning  which  more  information  is  required.  Structurally 
it  presents  no  peculiarities,  and  differs  little  from  Feltophara,  to 
which  it  may  be  allied.  It  is  however,  quite  exceptional  in  the 
curiously  spotted  hindwings  of  two  of  the  species,  evidently 
intended  for  display,  though  I  know  very  little  of  their  habits.  I 
have  not  been  able  to  obtain  a  specimen  for  dissection,  all  the 
species  being  retired  and  scarce,  and  it  is  possible  the  neuration 
may  present  further  characters. 
la.   Fore  wings  with  a  white  discal  spot. 

2a.   Hindwings  with  a  white  subapical  spot 124.  hexastera. 

2b.  , ,  without  subapical  spot 123.  sphcerophora. 

lb.  ,,  without  white  spot 125.  periclyta. 

123.  Petal.  S2:)h<^rophora,  n.  sp. 

Parva,  alis  ant.  nigris,  macula  disci  parva  nivea  ;  post,  nigris, 
macula  ad  basim  flavido-cana,  altera  disci  nivea. 

$.  10  mm.  Head  and  thorax  blackish-fuscous,  face  with  a 
few  whitish  scales.  Palpi  black,  irregularly  mixed  with  white. 
Antennae,  black,  annulated  beneath  with  white.  Abdomen  dark 
fuscous,  mixed  with  coppery-metallic  scales,  with  a  yellowish- 
white  basal  band,  and  a  whitish-yellow  band  midway  between  this 
and  apex.      Anterior  tibiae  black  irrorated  with  white,  tarsi  black 


336  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

with  white  rings  at  apex  of  joints;  middle  and  posterior  legs 
whitish-yellow,  tibice  with  an  oblique  dark  fuscous  band,  tarsi  dark 
fuscous  with  whitish-yellow  rings  at  apex  of  joints.  Fore  wings 
elongate,  narrow,  costa  gently  arched,  apex  rounded,  hindmargin 
very  oblique  rounded ;  blackish-fuscous  ;  a  small  somewhat  oval 
snow-white  spot  obliquely  placed  in  disc  beyond  middle  :  cilia 
blackish-fuscous.  Hindwings  blackish-fuscous ;  a  round  white 
spot,  faintly  yellowish-tinged,  in  inner  angle,  not  quite  touching 
margin ;  a  somewhat  smaller  oval  snow-white  spot  obliquely 
placed  in  middle  of  disc  ;  cilia  grey. 

Differs  from  the  following  by  the  wholly  blackish  ground  colour, 
the  absence  of  the  subapical  spot  of  the  hindwings,  and  the  two 
broad  abdominal  bands. 

One  specimen  on  a  fence  at  Sydney  in  October  ;  Mr.  G.  H. 
Raynor  took  another  at  Blackheath  (3500  feet)  in  November. 

124.  Petal,  hexastera,  n.  sp. 

Parva,  alls  ant.  nigricantibus,  flavido-strigulatis,  basi,  fascia 
antica,  maculaque  costae  postica  nigris,  macula  disci  parva  nivea  ; 
post,  nigris,  macula  ad  basim  ochreo-flava,  altera  disci  partim 
nivea  cum  hac  in  costa  conjuncta,  tertia  postica  parva  nivea. 

$.  10|-11^  mm.  Head  and  thorax  dark  fuscous,  with  a  few 
yellow -wdiitish  scales.  Palpi  black,  with  a  slender  white  longi- 
tudinal line  from  base  to  apex  on  each  side,  and  a  third  above. 
Antennae  blackish,  with  a  very  fine  white  longitudinal  line 
above.  Abdomen  dark  fuscous,  with  a  broad  whitish-yellow 
basal  band,  and  four  narrow  wdiitish-yellow  rings.  Anterior 
legs  blackish,  irregularly  striated  with  yellowish- white ;  middle 
tibice  blackish,  coarsely  mixed  with  yellowish-white,  tarsi  black 
with  yellowish-white  rings  at  apex  of  joints  ;  posterior  tibiae 
whitish-yellow  with  a  dark  fuscous  aj^ical  band,  tarsi  dark  fuscous 
with  basal  and  apical  joints  whitish-yellow.  Fore  wings  elongate, 
narrow,  costa  gently  arched,  apex  rounded,  hindmargin  very 
obliquely  rounded;  blackish-fuscous,  with  fine  clearly  marked 
somewhat  irregular  transverse  yellow-whitish  striae  ;  the  absence  of 
these  produces   a  clear   blackish  narrow  patch  at  base,  a  narrow 


BY    E.  MEYRICK,  B.A.  337 

direct  trans v^erse  fascia  at  I,  and  a  costal  spot  at  *;  a  small  oval 
snow-wliite  spot  transversely  placed  in  disc  beyond  middle ;  some- 
times an  ill-defined  whitish-yellow  spot  on  costa  beyond  ^  ;  cilia 
blackish-grey,  mixed  with  whitish-yellow  points,  with  a  broad 
blackish  line.  Hindwings  blackish-fuscous,  a  rather  large  whitish- 
yellow  or  light  ochreous-yellow  spot  at  base,  connected  with  a 
yellowish-white  posteriorly  attenuated  costal  streak  from  base  to 
f ;  a  transverse  fascia-like  spot  in  middle,  connected  above  with 
costal  streak,  beneath  almost  touching  lower  margin,  its  upper 
half  snow-white,  lower  half  and  extreme  upper  edge  light  ochreous- 
yellow  ;  a  small  irregular-oval  snow-white  spot  towards  apex ;  cilia 
grey,  with  a  broad  basal  blackish  band. 

Specially  characterised  by  the  fine  pale  strigulse  of  the  forewings, 
the  white  subapical  spot  of  the  hindwings,  and  the  longitudinally 
striated  palpi.  The  second  of  my  two  specimens  sat  constantly 
with  the  wings  half-raised,  and  the  forewings  not  fully  covering 
the  hindwings,  but  I  did  not  observe  this  habit  in  the  other  indivi 
duals  of  the  genus. 

One  specimen  taken  at  Toowoomba,  Queensland  (2000  feet),  in 
September,  and  a  second  near  Hamilton,  Victoria,  in  November ; 
both  at  rest  on  trunks  of  Eucalyptus. 

125.    Petal,  periclyta,  n.  sp. 

Parva,  alis  ant.  saturate  purpureo-fuscis,  cupreo-nitentibus, 
fascia  prope  basim,  macula  costse  post  medium  parva  alteraque 
dorsi  obscuris  dilute  ochreis ;  post,  saturate  flavis,  postice  anguste, 
apicem  versus  latius  nigro-marginatis. 

^.11  mm.  Head  and  thorax  black,  thinly  strewn  with  fine 
(vhitish-yellow  hair-scales,  lower  part  of  face  and  sides  of  collar 
whitish-yellow.  Palpi  black,  second  joint  coarsely  mixed  with 
white,  terminal  joint  with  an  irregular  white  longitudinal  line  on 
each  side.  Antennae  black,  annulated  with  white.  Abdomen 
dark  fuscous,  violet-shining,  beneath  whitish-yellow.  Anterior 
tibiae  black  irrorated  with  white,  middle  tibiae  black  with  white 
median  and  apical  bands,   posterior  tibiae  whitish -yellow,  all  tarsi 


338  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

black  with  white  rings  at  apex  of  joints.  Fore  wings  elongate, 
narrow,  costa  gently  arched,  apex  round-pointed,  hindmargin  very 
obliquely  rounded  j  dark  purple-fuscous,  with  blue  and  green 
reflections,  with  a  transverse  patch  of  raised  scales  in  disc  at  J  ;  an 
ill-defined  whitish-ochreous  transverse  fascia  close  to  base  ;  two  or 
three  scattered  whitish-ochreous  scales  in  disc  below  middle ;  a 
small  ochreous- whitish  spot  on  costa  at  |^,  and  a  similar  less-defined 
spot  on  inner  margin  somewhat  before  it ;  an  ochreous-whitish  dot 
on  costa  before  apex  :  cilia  dark  purple-fuscous.  Hindwings  deep 
yellow,  apex  broadly  dark  fuscous,  with  a  very  narrow  dark 
fuscous  border  along  lower  margin  ;  cilia  dark  grey,  with  a  broad 
dark  fuscous  basal  line. 

A  curious  species,  although  the  colouring  of  the  hindwings  is 
here  of  a  normal  type.  The  raised  scales  of  the  forewings  seem 
natural,  but  I  am  not  sure  that  they  are  really  so. 

Sydney,  in  October ;  one  specimen  at  rest  on  a  fence. 

24.  LiNOSTiCHA  Meyr. 

Head  loosely  haired,  sidetufts  Iftrge,  loosely  spreading.  Antennae 
in  $  moderate,  with  long  fine  cilia  (4)  on  basal  half,  shorter 
towards  apex,  basal  joint  rather  stout,  with  strong  pecten.  Palpi 
moderately  long,  second  joint  reaching  or  somewhat  exceeding  base 
of  antennae,  with  appressed  scales,  somewhat  loose  beneath, 
terminal  joint  as  long  as  second,  slender,  recurved.  Thorax 
smooth.  Forewings  elongate,  moderate,  apex  pointed,  hindmargin 
very  oblique.  Hindwings  somewhat  narrower  than  forewings, 
elongate-ovate,  hindmargin  rounded,  cilia  |.  Abdomen  moderate. 
Posterior  tibise  clothed  with  fine  moderate  hairs  above.  Forewings 
with  vein  7  to  apex,  2  almost  from  angle  of  cell.  Hindwings 
normal. 

Closely  allied  to  Eulechria,  of  which  it  is  doubtless  a  develop- 
ment, differing  essentially  only  by  the  long  fine  ciliations  of  the 
antennas. 

1  a.   Forewings  grey .126.  scythropa . 

lb.  „  white 127.   canephoi'a. 


I 


BY    E.  MEYRICK,  B.A.  339 

126.  Lin.  scythroim,  n.  sp. 

Minoi',  alls  ant.  dilutius  griseis,  sericeis,  puncto  disci  nigro  ;  post, 
griseis. 

$  5  .  13|-15|^  ram.  Head,  palpi,  antennae,  thorax,  and  abdomen 
rather  light  glossy  grey,  inner  side  of  palpi  and  apex  of  abdomen 
whitish,  terminal  joint  of  palpi  anteriorly  dark  fuscous.  Anterior 
and  middle  legs  rather  dark  grey,  posterior  legs  ochreous-whitish. 
Forewings  moderate,  costa  gently  arched,  apex  acute,  hindmargin 
straight,  very  oblique  uniform  light  glossy  grey ;  a  blackish  dot 
in  disc  beyond  middle,  generally  distinct,  sometimes  nearly 
obsolete;  cilia  glossy  whitish-grey.  Hindwings  fuscous-grey, 
darker  towards  apex  ;  cilia  grey-whitish,  with  an  indistinct  grey 
line  near  base. 

An  inconspicuous  species,  somewhat  resembling  Eulechria 
achalinella. 

Common  round  Sydney  amongst  dry  scrub  in  November  ;  also 
met  with  at  Blackheath  (3500  feet)  in  January. 

127.  Lin.  canepliora,  n,  sp. 

Minor,  alls  ant.  niveis,  partim  griseo-sparsis,  triangulo  dorsi  ad 
basim,  macula  dorsi  postica  elongata  magna  lineaque  postica 
angulata  saturate  griseis,  punctis  disci  tribus  nigricantibus ;  post, 
albido-griseis. 

$  ?.  17-18  mm.  Head,  palpi,  antennse,  thorax,  abdomen,  and 
legs  white ;  thorax  with  a  suffused  fuscous-grey  spot  on  each  side 
of  back  ;  anterior  legs  dark  fuscous  above,  apex  of  joints  white. 
Forewings  elongate,  costa  gently  arched,  slightly  sinuate  in  middle, 
apex  round-pointed,  hindmargin  very  obliquely  rounded  ;  white  ; 
costal  edge  dark  fuscous  at  base  ;  a  slender  fuscous-grey  suffusion 
beneath  costa  from  \  to  beyond  middle ;  a  suffused  dark-grey 
oblique  triangular  blotch  on  inner  margin  towards  base,  reaching 
half  across  wing,  mixed  with  blackish  above  and  posteriorly  ;  a 
large  grey  oblong  blotch  extending  on  inner  margin  from  \  to  anal 
angle,  anteriorly  mixed  with  blackish  and  connected  with  a  small 
blackish  spot  in  disc  before  middle,  posteriorly  more  or  less  suffused 
and  ill-defined  ;  two  cloudy  dark  fuscous  dots  transversely  placed 


340 

in  disc  beyond  middle,  connected  with  costa  beyond  middle  by  a 
few  grey  scales;  a  cloudy  dark  fuscous-grey  outwards-angulated 
transverse  line  from  costa  at  f  to  hindmargin  above  anal  angle ; 
beyond  this  some  scattered  grey  scales  ;  a  row  of  cloudy  almost 
confluent  dark  fuscous  dots  along  hindmargin  and  apical  fourth  of 
costa :  cilia  white,  with  a  few  grey  spots.  Hindwings  pale 
whitish-grey,  under  surface  white  ;  cilia  white. 

Very  distinct  and  easily  recognisable. 

One  specimen  taken  at  Launceston,  Tasmania,  at  the  end  of 
January ;  a  second  near  Mount  Gambler,  South  Australia,  in 
November. 

25.  Phriconyma  Meyr. 

Head  loosely  haired,  sidetufts  moderately  large,  loosely  spreading. 
Antennse  in  (^  moderate,  moderately  and  evenly  ciliated  (1),  basal 
joint  moderate,  with  strong  pecten.  Palpi  moderate,  second  joint 
hardly  reaching  base  of  antennae,  beneath  dilated  with  roughly 
projecting  laterally  compressed  scales  on  apical  half,  terminal  joint 
shorter  than  second,  moderate,  recurved.  Thorax  smooth.  Fore- 
wings  elongate,  moderate,  apex  obtusely  pointed,  hindmargin  very 
oblique.  Hindwings  somewhat  narrower  than  forewings,  elongate- 
ovate,  hindmargin  rounded,  cilia  j.  Abdomen  elongate.  Posterior 
tibiae  clothed  with  long  hairs  above.  Forewings  with  vein  7  to 
apex,  2  with  3  from  angle  of  cell,  upper  fork  of  1  obsolete. 
Hindwings  with  veins  3  and  4  short-stalked. 

Also  near  Eulechria,  differing  in  the  peculiarities  of  neuration, 
and  the  projecting  scales  of  the  second  joint  of  palpi  ;  also  certainly 
related  to  Locheutis.     It  is  probably  a  direct  offshoot  of  Eulechria. 

128.  Phric.  lucifuga,  n.  sp. 

Minor,  alis  ant.  griseis,  leviter  nigro-sparsis,  punctis  disci  tribus 
nigris  ;  post,  griseis  ;  capite  cano. 

$  $.  15J-18  mm.  Head  white,  mixed  with  grey  on  crown. 
Palpi  dark  grey,  terminal  joint  and  apex  of  second  mixed  with 
white.  Antennae  dark  fuscous.  Thorax  fuscous-grey,  sometimes 
irrorated  with  blackish.  Abdomen  whitish-grey.  Anterior  and 
middle  legs  dark  grey  \  posterior  tibiae  grey- whitish,  tarsi  grey  with 


BY    E.   MEYRICK,  B.A.  341 

whitish  rings  at  apex  of  joints.  Forewings  elongate,  narrow,  costa 
slightly  arched,  apex  round-pointed,  hindmargin  very  obliquely 
rounded  ;  dull  grey,  thinly  irrorated  with  blackish  ;  a  small  black 
dot  in  disc  before  middle,  another  obliquely  somewhat  before  it  on 
fold,  and  a  third  larger  and  more  conspicuous  in  disc  beyond 
middle;  cilia  light  grey,  irrorated  with  blackish.  Hindwings 
grey  j  cilia  light  grey. 

An  obscure  species,  liable  to  be  overlooked. 

Blackheath,  New  South  Wales  (3500  feet),  in  January  and 
March  ;  tolerably  common. 

25*.  LocHEUTis  n.    g. 

Head  with  appressed  scales,  sidetufts  rather  small  loosely 
appressed.  Antennae  in  J  moderate,  somewhat  serrate,  with 
whorls  of  long  cilia  (,21-4),  basal  joint  moderate,  without  pecten. 
Palpi  moderately  long,  second  joint  somewhat  exceeding  base  of 
antennae,  thickened  with  dense  appressed  scales,  somewhat  rough 
beneath,  terminal  joint  shorter  than  second,  moderate,  recurved. 
Thorax  smooth.  Forewings  elongate,  apex  rounded,  hindmargin 
very  obliquely  rounded.  Hindwings  slightly  narrower  than  fore- 
wings, elongate-ovate,  hindmargin  rounded,  cilia  f  to  1 .  Abdomen 
moderate.  Posterior  tibiae  clothed  with  rather  short  dense  hairs 
above.  Forewings  with  vein  7  to  apex,  2  from  before  apex  of  cell. 
Hindwings  normal. 

This  genus  is  not  included  in  the  analytical  tabulation,  as  I  have 
only  recently  obtained  the  species  on  which  it  is  founded.  It  is 
allied  to  Eulechria,  differing  in  the  long  ciliations  of  the  antennae, 
and  the  absence  of  the  basal  pecten.  In  the  tabulation  it  should  be 
referred  to  the  same  head  as  Linosticha  and  Macronemata,  but 
distinguished  from  both  by  the  absence  of  the  pecten.  It  may  be 
regarded  at  partially  intermediate  between  Phloeopola  and  Eule- 
chria] I  consider  it  to  be  probably  an  offshoot  from  a  genus 
(perhaps  extinct)  which  should  connect  these  two.  Further 
material  is  required  to  decide  the  affinities  of  these  small  allied 
genera.     This  genus  is  as  yet  exclusively  Tasmanian. 


342  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA 

la.  Forewings  with  a  whitish-yellow  anterior  fascia..  131.  ancyrota. 

lb.  ,,  without  pale  fascia.    . 

2a.  Forewings  with  a  suffused  dark  fascia  enclosing 

a  pale  discal   spot 130,  desmophora. 

2b.         „  not  fasciated 129.  fhilochora. 

129.   Loch  p)hilochora,  n.  sp. 

Minor,  alis  ant.  griseis,  albido-ochreo  conspersis,  macula  costse 
ad  basim  parva,  punctis  costse  duobus,  disci  tribus,  lineaque  postica 
transversa  saepius  obsoleta  nigricantibus  ;  post,  griseis. 

^.  12|^-15  mm.  Head  whitish-ochreous.  Palpi  dark-fuscous, 
apex  of  second  joint  whitish-ochreous.  Antennae  dark-fuscous. 
Thorax  grey,  mixed  with  whitish-ochreous  towards  shoulders. 
Abdomen  pale  ochreous-grey.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  posterior  tibiae 
and  apex  of  all  tarsal  joints  obscurely  ochreous-whitish.  Forewings 
elongate,  costa  slightly  arched,  somewhat  bent  near  base,  apex 
round-pointed,  hindmargin  very  obliquely  rounded  ',  grey,  irrorated 
with  whitish-ochreous  ;  an  oblong  black  spot  along  costa  at  base  ; 
costal  edge  blackish  from  base  to  middle,  a  small  blackish  spot 
on  costa  at  ^,  another  somewhat  beyond  middle,  and  a  third  a  little 
before  apex  ;  a  black  dot  in  disc  before  middle,  a  second  hardly 
beyond  middle,  and  a  third  obliquely  before  first  on  fold  ;  a  very 
obscure  dark  fuscous  transverse  line  from  ante-apical  costal  spot 
to  anal  angle,  sharply  indented  inwards  beneath  costa,  often 
obsolete  :  cilia  grey,  mixed  with  whitish-ochreous  towards  base. 
Hindwings  fuscous-grey,  apex  somewhat  darker;  cilia  light  fus- 
cous-grey. 

E-eadily  distinguished  from  L.  desmophora  by  the  lighter  and 
more  uniform  grey  colouring,  the  sharply-defined  basal  spot,  the 
distinctness  of  the  other  dots,  and  the  absence  of  any  darker  trans- 
verse shade. 

Abundant  round  Deloraine  Tasmania,  in  November,  especially 
along  the  roadsides,  but  I  ooserved  it  nowhere  else  ;  the  ^  is 
active  and  readily  disturbed  by  day,  but  I  failed  to  obtain  the 
other  sex. 


\ 


BY    E,   MEYRICK,  B.A.  343 

130.   Loch,  desmophora,  n.  sp. 

Minor,  alls  ant.  fuscis,  albido  nigroqiie  conspersis,  macula  costse 
parva,  punctis  disci  diiobus  anticis,  fascia  nebulosa  punctum 
albidnm  includente,  lineaque  postica  transversa  obscura  nigrescen- 
tibus  ;  post,  saturate  griseis. 

<?.  12-15  mm.  Head  and  thorax  whitish-grey,  mixed  with  dark 
fuscous.  Palpi  dark  fuscous,  mixed  Avith  whitish-grey,  apex  of 
second  joint  whitish.  Antennae  dark  fuscous.  Abdomen  light 
grey.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  apex  of  all  joints,  central  band  of  middle 
tibiae,  and  hairs  of  posterior  tibiae  ochreous-white.  Fore  wings 
elongate,  costa  slightly  arched,  somewhat  bent  near  base,  apex 
round-pointed,  hindmargin  very  obliquely  rounded ;  fuscous, 
densely  irrorated  with  ochreous-whitish  and  with  scattered  black 
scales  ;  base  of  costa  and  inner-margin  blackish-fuscous  ;  a  small 
blackish-fuscous  spot  on  costa  before  J,  a  blackish  dot  in  disc 
before  middle,  and  another  obliquely  before  it  on  fold,  all  three 
sometimes  confluent ;  a  triangular  blackish-fuscous  spot  on  costa 
somewhat  beyond  middle,  connected  with  inner  margin  before  anal 
angle  by  a  cloudy  dark  fuscous  shade,  containing  a  white  or  whitish 
dot  in  disc,  margined  above  by  a  blackish  dot ;  a  cloudy  blackish- 
fuscous  transverse  line  from  costa  a  little  before  apex  to  anal  angle, 
dilated  on  costa  and  sharply  indented  beneath  it,  often  obscure ; 
cilia  fuscous-grey  mixed  with  ochreous-whitish,  tips  ochreous- 
whitish.  Hind  wings  dark  fuscous-grey  ;  cilia  light  fuscous-grey, 
tips  pale. 

Closely  allied  to  the  preceding,  but  differing  in  the  fuscous 
colouring,  more  suffused  markings,  the  transverse  darker  shade 
beyond  middle  and  included  whitish  dot,  and  darker  hindwins^s. 

Mount  Wellington,  Tasmania,  at  about  1000  feet;  seven 
specimens. 

131.   Loch,  ancyrota,  n.  sp. 

Minor,  alis  ant.  purpureo-griseis,  nigro-conspersis,  puncto  dorsi 
antico,  altero  costae  postico,  fascia  antica  oblique  interrupta, 
strigaque  dorsi  postica  deflexa  albido-flavis  ;  post,  saturate  griseis. 

$  $.  11-14  mm.  Head  and  thorax  dark  fuscous,  slightly  mixed 
with   whitish,  face  white.     Palpi  whitish-yellow,    terminal  joint 


344  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

and  extreme  base  and  apex  of  second  joint  black.  Antennae  dark 
fuscous,  in  ?  annulated  with  whitish-yellow.  Abdomen  dark 
fuscous.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  central  ring  of  anterior  and  middle 
tibise  and  apex  of  all  joints  yellowish-white,  hairs  of  posterior  tibiae 
whitish.  Fore  wings  moderate,  costa  gently  arched,  somewhat  bent 
near  base,  apex  rounded,  hindmargin  very  obliquely  rounded ; 
purplish-grey,  very  finely  irrorated  with  black,  most  densely  on 
costa  and  hindmargin  ;  a  very  small  whitish-yellow  spot  on  inner 
margin  at  ^ ;  a  straight  narrow  whitish-yellow  fascia  from  ^  of 
costa  to  middle  of  inner  margin,  interrupted  on  fold  ;  a  narrow 
whitish-yellow  streak  from  lower  extremity  of  this  to  disc  beyond 
and  below  middle,  its  posterior  extremity  connected  with  anal 
angle  by  some  irregular  whitish-yellow  scales  ;  a  very  small  whitish- 
yellow  spot  on  costa  at  | :  cilia  purplish-grey,  mixed  with  black 
towards  base,  with  a  darker  line.     Hindwings  and  cilia  dark  grey. 

Unlike  any  other  species  in  marking. 

Deloraine,  Tasmania  ;  nine  specimens  beaten  from  Leptospermum 
scoparium  in  swamp  in  November. 

26.  loPTERA  Meyr. 

Head  with  appressed  scales,  sidetufts  large,  loosely  spreading, 
meeting  above.  Antennae  in  $  stout,  serrate,  with  extremely  long 
and  fine  dense  cilia  (7),  basal  joint  stout,  short,  with  strong  pecten. 
Palpi  rather  short,  second  joint  not  nearly  reaching  base  of 
antennae,  with  appressed  scales,  beneath  dilated  to  form  a  short 
angular  projection  at  apex,  somewhat  rough  beneath  ;  terminal 
joint  as  long  as  second,  slender,  oblique.  Thorax  smooth.  Fore- 
wings  elongate,  narrow,  apex  obtusely  pointed,  hindmargin  straight, 
very  oblique,  Hindwings  as  broad  as  f  orewings,  elongate,  parallel- 
sided,  hindmargin  slightly  rounded,  cilia  |,  Abdomen  elongate, 
somewhat  flattened.  Legs  very  elongate,  posterior  tibiae  clothed 
with  rather  long  hairs  above.  Forewings  with  vein  7  to  apex,  2 
from  angle  of  cell.     Hindwings  normal. 

Probably  a  development  from  Linosticha,  with  exaggerated  cha- 
racteristics ;  the  antennal  ciliations  reach  their  maximum  in  this 
genus. 


BY    E.   MEYRICK,  B.A.  345 

132.  lopt.  aristogona,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alls  ant.  fuscis,  albido-conspersis,  maculis  sub  costa 
quinque  parvis,  singulis  disci  longitudinalibus  plerisque,  signoque 
disci  postico  transverse  cum  dorso  connexo  nigrescentibus ;  post, 
dilute  griseis. 

cf.  22  mm.  Head  white  mixed  with  grey,  crown  dark  grey. 
Palpi  fuscous-grey,  terminal  joint  and  extreme  apex  of  second 
mixed  with  white,  second  joint  internally  suffused  with  white. 
Antennae  ochreous-whitish.  Thorax  fuscous-grey  mixed  with 
white.      Abdomen    ochreous-w-hitish.     Anterior  and  middle  le^s 

o 

dark  fuscous-grey,  posterior  legs  ochreous-whitish.  Forewings 
very  elongate,  narrow,  costa  very  slightly  arched,  somewhat 
sinuate  beyond  middle,  apex  round-pointed,  hindmargin  very 
oblique,  slightly  rounded  ;  rather  light  brownish-grey^  thickly  and 
irregularly  strewn  with  white,  more  scantily  along  costa  and  inner 
margin ;  four  small  ill-defined  blackish  spots  below  costa  between 
middle  and  apex  ;  a  shorb  cloudy  blackish  oblique  streak  beneath 
costa  about  \,  and  three  others  more  clearly  defined  beneath  the 
first  three  subcostal  spots ;  inner  margin  broadly  and  irregularly 
irrorated  with  blackish ;  two  or  three  ill-defined  longitudinal 
streaks  of  blackish  scales  in  disc ;  a  transverse  blackish  mark  in 
disc  at  5,  emitting  two  slightly  diverging  cloudy  blackish  lines 
directly  to  inner  margin ;  a  small  cloudy  blackish  oval  spot  in  disc 
beyond  this  ;  cilia  grey-whitish,  with  a  broad  cloudy  fuscous-grey 
median  line.  Hindwings  pale  fuscous-grey  ;  cilia  whitish,  with  a 
broad  suffused  light  grey  median  shade. 

A  distinct  and  rather  elegant  species. 

Sydney,  in  April ;  one  fine  specimen  at  rest  on  a  fence. 

27.  Macronemata  Meyr. 

Head  smooth,  sidetufts  rather  small,  loosely  spreading  behind. 
Antennae  in  S  moderate,  somewhat  serrate,  strongly  ciliated  (3), 
basal  joint  rather  stout,  with  strong  pecten.  Palpi  moderate, 
second  joint  not  reaching  base  of  antennae,  densely  scaled,  some- 
what loosely  beneath,  terminal  joint  rather   shorter  than   second, 


346  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

moderate,  recurved  Thorax  smooth.  Forewings  elongate,  moderate, 
apex  obtusely  pointed,  hindmargin  very  obliquely  rounded.  Hind- 
wings  rather  narrower  than  forewings,  elongate-ovate,  hindmargin 
rounded,  cilia  1.  Abdomen  dilated,  distinctly  flattened.  Posterior 
tibisD  clothed  with  dense  moderate  hairs  above.  Forewings  with 
vein  7  to  apex,  2  from  near  angle  of  cell.     Hindwings  normal. 

Closely  allied  to  Linosticha,  of  which  it  is  probably  an  off-shoot; 
it  differs  from  Linosticha  principally  by  the  second  joint  of  palpi 
not  reaching  base  of  antennse,  the  terminal  joint  rather  shorter 
than  second  (so  that  the  whole  palpi  are  considerably  shorter),  and 
the  somewhat  flattened  abdomen.  The  species  are  small  and  very 
inconspicuous. 

la.  Forewings  nearly  unicolorous  fuscous 133.  lopelictes. 

lb.         „  pale  greyish-ochreous,  with  black  dots  134.  elajyhia. 

133.  Macr.   lopelictes,  n.  sp. 

Parva,  alls  ant.  saturatius  fuscis ;  post,  saturatius  fuscis. 

cT  ?.  10-11  mm.  Head,  palpi,  antennse,  thorax,  and  abdomen 
fuscous,  somewhat  mixed  with  paler.  Legs  fuscous,  posterior 
tibiae  whitish-ochreous,  and  tarsi  with  ochreous-whitish  rings  at 
apex  of  joints.  Forewings  moderate,  costa  moderately  arched, 
apex  pointed,  hindmargin  very  oblique,  slightly  rounded  ;  fuscous 
or  dark  fuscous,  finely  irrorated  with  paler  j  cilia  fuscous.  Hind- 
wings  dark  fuscous ;  cilia  fuscous,  with  an  indistinct  darker  line 
near  base. 

A  very  obscure-looking  insect. 

Toowoomba,  Queensland  ;  three  specimens  in  September. 

134.   Macr.  elaphia,  n.  sp. 

Parva,  alls  ant.  dilute  griseis,  albido-ochreo  conspersis,  ieviter 
nigro-sparsis,  puncto  disci  postica  majore  nigro  ;  post,  dilute  griseis. 

cf.  lOJ-lli^  mm.  Head,  palpi,  and  thorax  whitish-ochreous, 
second  joint  of  palpi  externally  suffused  with  dark  fuscous. 
Antennae  dark  fuscous.  Abdomen  pale  grey.  Legs  dark  fuscous, 
posterior  tibiae  ochreous-grey- whitish,  apex  of  all  tarsal  joints 
ochreous-whitish.     Forewings  elongate,  costa  moderately  arched. 


BY    E.   MEYRICK,  B.A.  347 

apex  roiincl-pointed,  hindmargin  extremely  obliquely  rounded : 
light  grey,  densely  irrorated  and  costa  suffused  with  pale  whitish- 
ochreous ;  base  of  costa  black ;  some  scattered  black  scales, 
especially  towards  apex,  and  sometiuies  seeming  to  form  a  dot  in 
disc  before  middle,  and  another  obliquely  before  it  on  fold  ;  a 
larger  blackish  dot  in  disc  beyond  middle  :  cilia  pale  grey,  irrorated 
with  pale  whitish-ochreous.  Hind  wings  light  grey  ;  cilia  whitish- 
grey,  with  a  faint  darker  line. 

Near  the  preceding,  but  cannot  be  confused  with  it. 

Hobart  and  Deloraine,  Tasmania,  in  November  and  December ; 
common  but  local. 

28.  Phlceopola  Meyr. 

Head  with  loosely  appressed  scales,  sidetufts  large,  loosely 
spreading.  Antennae  in  cf  moderately  stout,  somewhat  serrate, 
moderately  ciliated  (f-2),  basal  joint  rather  elongate,  moderate, 
without  pecten.  Palpi  long  or  rather  long,  second  joint  reaching 
or  exceeding  base  of  antennae,  dilated  with  dense  appressed  scales, 
slightly  rough  beneath,  terminal  joint  as  long  as  second  or  some- 
what shorter,  moderate  or  stout,  strongly  recurved.  Thorax  with 
dense  posterior  crest.  Forewings  elongate,  moderate,  apex  bluntly 
rounded,  hindmargin  oblique.  Hindwings  as  broad  as  forewings 
or  somewhat  narrower,  elongate  ovate,  hindmargin  rounded,  cilia 
•^  to  §.  Abdomen  moderate,  strongly  margined.  Middle  tibiae 
with  a  median  whorl  of  projecting  hairs,  and  roughly  short-haired 
beneath ;  posterior  tibiae  clothed  with  long  dense  hairs  above. 
Forewings  with  vein  7  to  apex,  2  from  angle  of  cell.  Hindwings 
normal. 

This  genns  appears  to  form  the  nearest  representative  of  the 
transitional  stage  between  the  two  main  groups  of  the  family,  that 
of  Oecophora  on  the  one  hand,  and  that  of  Eulechria  and  Philohota 
on  the  other.  It  is  therefore  of  considerable  importance.  The 
apex  of  the  forewings  is  in  most  of  the  species  peculiarly  rounded, 
so  that  it  is  difficult  to  determine  where  the  exact  apical  point  is, 
and  the  termination  of  vein  7  appears  therefore  in  some  cases  to 
fluctuate  between  the  costa  and  hindmargin.      It  is  then  easy  to 


348  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

understand  how,  when  such  a  form  of  wing  had  prevailed  for  some 
moderate  period,  when  again  species  with  more  pointed  (but  on  the 
whole  somewhat  broader)  wings  were  produced,  the  termination  of 
vein  7  was  found  to  have  slipped  round  from  the  costa  to  the 
hindmargin,  and  thus  another  tjpe  was  established,  of  which  the 
hindmarginal  termination  was  the  most  persistent  character.  It 
should  be  observed  that  there  ai'e  strictly  only  these  two  types,  the 
apical  termination  being  properly  regarded  as  a  special  case  of  the 
hindmarginal.  FlilxEopola  may  be  considered  as  a  development 
from  Oecoiyhora  itself  (but  not  immediate,  a  connecting  link  being 
required),  and  as  closely  approaching  the  parent  form  of  ^nZecArirt; 
it  differs  from  both  by  the  strong  thoracic  crest,  and  the  absence  of 
the  antennal  pecten,  both  of  which  characters,  however,  recur  in 
several  of  the  allied  genera.  The  genus  should  be  of  very  consider- 
able antiquity.  There  is  one  New  Zealand  species  ;  the  Australian 
species  are  principally  southern,  and  especially  Tasmanian. 
There  is  considerable  reason  to  suppose  that  the  larvoe  feed  in  bark 
or  dead  wood,  as  with  many  species  of  Oecophora. 

1  have  at  present  twelve  species,   of  which  the  following  is  a 
tabulation  : — 

la.   Hind  wings  with  a  darker  central   lunnle,..135.  dinocosma. 
lb.  „  without  darker  lunule. 

2a.   Hind  wings  whitish-yellow,  at  least   towards 

base I4l.   confusella. 

2b.  ,,         fuscous  or  grey. 

3a.   Forewings  snow-white 142.  synchyta. 

3b.  „  more  or  less  greyish  or  ochreous- 

tinged. 

4a    "With  a  large  clear  blackish  dorsal  triangle...  146.  melanodelta. 

4b.  Without  defined  dorsal  spot. 

5a.  Forewings  strongly  dilated  posteriorly. 

6a.   Costal  spots  suffusedly  darker. 

7a.  With  a  blackish  streak  from  costa  along  fold..  137.  semocausta. 

7b.  Without  streak  on  fold. 

8a.  Antennge  dark  fuscous 136.  asbolcea. 

8b.  ,,  annulated  with  whitish-ochreous...  138.  helica. 


BY    E.  MEYRICK,  B^A.  349 

6b.  Antennae  tolerably  well-defined  blackish. 

7a,  Fore  wings  short  140.   turhatella. 

7b.  ,,             elongate ...139.  ijsephophora. 

5b.  ,,             not  or  slightly  dilated. 

6a.  Ground  colour  grey-whitish 145.  lithoglypta. 

6  b.  ,,                   whitish-ochreous, 

7a.  Palpi  mostly  whitish-ochreous 1 44.   exarcha. 

7b.  „     wholly  dark-fuscous 143.  hanausa. 

135.   Phloe,  dinoGosma,  Meyr. 

Media,  alls  ant.  fuscis,  ochreo-nebulosis,  costa  partim,  dorsi 
basi,  maculis  disci  tribus  strigulaque  media  nigrantibus  j  post, 
albido-griseis,  lunula  media  saturatiore. 

Immediately  distinguished  from  all  others  by  the  distinct  darker 
lunule  of  the  hindwings,  a  very  rare  characteristic  in  the  family  \ 
the  discal  markings  are  much  as  in  Phloe.  semocausta. 

Wellington,  New  Zealand  ;  one  specimen  in  January. 

136.  Fhloe.  asholaea,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  fuscis,  apice  saturatiori,  margine  costali  punc- 
tisque  disci  tribus  longitudinaliter  positis  atque  albido-ochreo 
disjunctis,  quarta  etiam  plicae  nigrescentibus  ',  post,  saturate 
griseis. 

cf .  23  mm.  Head  and  thorax  whitish-ochreous  suffused  with 
dark  fuscous.  Palpi  whitish-ochreous,  strongly  mixed  with  dark 
fuscous,  terminal  joint,  and  basal  half  and  subapical  ring  of  second 
joint  dark  fuscous.  Antennae  dark  fuscous.  Abdomen  grey.  Legs 
dark  fuscous,  central  ring  of  middle  tibiae  and  apex  of  all  joints 
slenderly  whitish,  hairs  of  posterior  tibise  grey-whitish.  Forewings 
elongate,  posteriorly  moderately  dilated,  costa  gently  arched,  apex 
rounded,  hindmargin  obliquely  rounded  whitish-ochreous,  almost 
wholly  suffused  with  pale  fuscous,  and  mixed  with  fuscous  and 
dark  fuscous  ;  costal  edge  blackish-fuscous ;  some  cloudy  irregular 
dark  fuscous  spots  towards  base  ;  a  small  round  blackish-fuscous 
spot  in  disc  before  middle,  a  second  in  middle,  and  a  third  beyond 
middle,  lying  in  a  straight  line,  and  separated  by  clear  whitish- 
ochreous-spots  ;  a  fourth  on  fold  obliquely  before   first ;  a  cloudy 


350 


DESCRIPTIONS    OF   MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 


fuscous  suffusion  towards  apex,  its  inner  edge  indicating  the  usual 
transverse  indented  line  :  cilia  whitish -ochreous,  suffusedly  mixed 
with  light  fuscous,  base  suffused  with  dark-fuscous.  Hindwings 
dark  grey  ;  cilia  grey. 

In  the  general  dark  suffusion  this  species  resembles  some  forms 
of  Phloe.  hanausa,  which  latter  is  always  recognisable  by  the 
thickened  terminal  joint  of  the  palpi  ,  it  differs  however  from  all 
in  the  arrangement  of  the  discal  dots,  and  their  separation  by 
whitish-ochreous  dots. 

Deloraine,  Tasmania  ;  one  good  specimen  in  November. 

137.   Phloe.  semocausta,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  albido-ochreis,  fusco-mixtis,  striga  e  costae  basi 
perobliqua,  punctis  disci  tribus  strigulaque  media,  serie  etiam 
marginis  postici  nigrescentibus,  maculis  costae  duabus  serieque 
punctorum  postica  flexuosa  nebulosis  fuscis  ;  post,  griseis. 

cf,  20-24  mm.  Head  whitish-ochreous.  Palpi  whitish-ochrBous, 
with  terminal  joints  towards  base,  and  a  subapical  ring  and  basal 
half  of  second  joint  dark  fuscous.  Antennge  fuscous,  ciliations  2. 
Thorax  whitish-ochreous,  anterior  margin  suffused  with  dark 
fuscous.  Abdomen  ochreous-whitish,  mixed  with  grey.  Legs 
dark  fuscous,  central  ring  of  middle  tibias,  hairs  of  posterior  tibiae, 
and  apex  of  all  joints  whitish-ochreous.  Fore  wings  rather  elongate, 
broadly  dilated  posteriorly,  costa  moderately  arched,  apex  rounded, 
hindmargin  straight  or  very  slightly  sinuate,  oblique;  pale  whitish- 
ochreous,  irrorated  with  grey  and  dark  fuscous  scales ;  a  thick 
blackish  suffused  streak  from  base  of  costa  along  fold  to  J  ;  a 
blackish  dot  on  base  of  inner  margin  ;  a  cloudy  fuscous  suffusion 
along  basal  half  of  costa,  darker  posteriorly ;  a  cloudy  fuscous 
oblong  spot  on  costa  somewhat  beyond  middle  ;  a  cloudy  blackish- 
fuscous  dot  in  disc  at  ^  above  and  beyond  apex  of  basal  streak, 
and  a  short  blackish  fuscous  transverse  mark  in  disc  beyond 
middle;  between  these  is  a  short  longitudinal  blackish-fuscous 
line,  beneath  posterior  extremity  of  which  is  a  blackish-fuscous 
dot ;  a  transverse  outwards-curved  line  of  cloudy  dark  fuscous 
nearly  confluent  dots     from    I    of    costa  to    before   anal    angle, 


BY    E.   MEYRICK,  B.A.  351 

sharply  indented  inwards  above  middle ;  a  hindmarginal  row  of 
well-defined  dark  fuscous  dots  ;  cilia  pale  whitish-ochreous, 
towards  base  very  obscurely  spotted  with  fuscous,  and  with  a 
fuscous-grey  median  line.  Hindwings  grey,  base  lighter ;  cilia 
whitish-ochreous,   with  a  broad  suffused  grey  line. 

Distinguished  from  all  by  the  suffused  dark  fuscous  streak  from 
base  of  costa  along  fold  ;  it  has  also  the  forewings  more  broadly 
dilated,  and  the  ciliations  of  the  antennae  longer,  than  in  any  other 
species  ;  the  transverse  form  of  the  posterior  discal  dot,  the  short 
longitudinal  streak  in  disc  between  the  dots,  and  the  well-defined 
series  of  dots  on  the  hindmargin,  are  also  reliable   characteristics. 

Deloraine,  Tasmania  ;  five  specimens  taken  in  November,  flying 
after  dusk  on  the  river-bank. 

138.  Phloe.  helica,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  ochreo-albidis,  ochreo-fnsco  nigroque  irroratis, 
maculis  costse  tribns  obscuris  fuscis,  strigula  dorsi  antica  maculaque 
costfe  postica  pallidis,  punctis  disci  quinque  nigris  ;  post,  griseis. 

(f.  23  mm.  Head  whitish-ochreous,  crown  suff'used  with 
fuscous.  Palpi  ochreous-whitish,  basal  half  and  a  subapical  ring 
of  second  joint,  and  basal  third  of  terminal  joint  dark  fuscous. 
Antenna3  whitish-ochreous,  annulated  with  dark  fuscous.  Thorax 
dark  fuscous,  mixed  with  ochreous-whitish.  Abdomen  ochreous- 
whitish.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  central  ring  of  middle  tibiae  and  apex 
of  all  joints  whitish-ochreous,  hairs  of  posterior  tibiae  grey- whitish. 
Forewings  elongate,  posteriorly  considerably  dilated,  costa  moder- 
ately arched,  apex  obtuse,  hindmargin  straight,  oblique  ;  ochreous- 
whitish,  densely  irrorated  with  ochreous-brown  and  blackish 
scales  ;  a  very  ill-defined  cloudy  dark  fuscous  triangular  spot  on 
costa  at  ^,  another  somewhat  beyond  middle,  and  a  third,  larger 
and  with  the  apex  black,  on  costa  before  apex  ;  between  the  second 
and  third  the  costal  space  is  clear  ochreous-whitish ;  an  oblique 
whitish  mark  on  inner  margin  at  J,  surrounded  by  a  darker 
suff*usion  ;  a  sharply-defined  partially  pale-margined  black  dot  in 
disc  at  J,  a  second  in  middle,  and  a  third  considerably  larger 
beyond  middle  ;  a  fourth  on  fold  directly  beneath  first,  and  a  fifth, 


352  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

less  defined,  between  fourth  and  second  ;  Mndmarginal  space  paler, 
through  absence  of  blackish  irroration;  cilia  ochreoQS- whitish, mixed 
with  blackish,  forming  obscure  transverse  bars.  Hind  wings  grey  ; 
cilia  ochreous-whitish  suffused  with  grey. 

Superficially  most  like  Phloe.  asholaea,  but  with  the  dark 
sufiusion  incomplete,  the  discal  dots  not  connected  by  pale  spots 
yet  more  clearly  defined,  the  forewings  more  strongly  dilated,  and 
with  the  apex  less  rounded  and  hindmargin  straight,  and  the 
antennae  annulated  with  whitish-ochreous. 

Deloraine,  Tasmania ;  one  fine  specimen  November. 

139  Phloe.  psei^liophora,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  albido-ochreis,  griseo-suffusis,  costa  pallida, 
strigula  costse  ad  basim  obliqua,  altera  ante  medium  reversa,  puncto 
costse  medio,  aliis  disci  quatuor,  lineaque  postica  transversa 
flexuosa  nigris  ;  post,  griseis. 

cf.  16-21  mm.  Head  pale  yellowish-oohreous.  Palpi  pale 
yellowish-ochreous,  basal  I  and  a  subapicai  ring  of  second  joint, 
and  more  or  less  of  terminal  joint  externally  black..  Antennae 
fuscous  or  dark  fuscous.  Thorax  dark  fuscous,  with  a  large 
whitish-ochreous  spot  on  each  side.  Abdomen  grey.  Legs  dark 
fuscous,  apex  of  joints  and  hairs  of  posterior  tibiae  grey -whitish. 
Forewings  elongate,  posteriorly  moderately  dilated,  costa  gently 
arched,  apex  rounded,  hindmargin  rather  strongly  oblique,  rounded; 
whitish-ochreous,  suffused  with  light  grey  ;  costal  edge  usually 
clear  whitish-ochreous  ;  a  short  narrow  very  oblique  black  streak 
from  base  of  costa  above  fold ;  a  short  slender  inwardly  oblique 
black  streak  from  costa  at  ^,  almost  reaching  apex  of  basal  streak  ; 
a  small  elongate  blackish  spot  on  costa  somewhat  beyond  middle  ; 
a  small  blackish  spot  at  base  of  inner  margin,  generally  sej^arated 
from  costal  streak  by  a  small  clear  whitish  ochreous  spot;  a  black 
dot  on  inner  margin  near  base ;  a  black  dot  in  disc  before  middle, 
a  second  beyond  middle,  a  third  on  fold  very  obliquely  before  first, 
and  fourth  in  disc  beiow  middle  ;  immediately  beneath  the  second 
is  a  clear  ochreous-whitish  dot  ;  a  strongly  outwards-curved  waved 
blackish-fuscous  transverse  line  from   costa  at  i  to  inner  margin 


BY    E.  MEYRICK,  B.A.  353 

before  anal  angle,  sharply  indented  inwards  above  middle ;  a 
slender  fuscous  streak  from  apex  along  upper  half  of  hindmargin  ; 
cilia  wliitish-ochreous,  suffused  with  light  grey,  obscurely  barred 
with  dark  fuscous  towards  base  on  upper  half  of  hindmargin  and 
above  apex.     Hindwings  grey  ;  cilia  pale  grey. 

Easily  recognised  by  the  general  neatness  and  clearness  of  all 
markings,  the  two  converging  anterior  strigulse  from  the  costa, 
the  arrangement  of  the  discal  dots,  and  the  more  yellowish  head. 

Common  at  Deloraine,  and  up  to  1200  feet  on  Mount  Welling- 
ton, Tasmania,  f)'om  November  to  January. 

140.  Phloe.  turhatella,  Walk. 

(Cryptolechia  turhatella,  Walk.,  Brit.  Mus.  Cat.,  765.) 
Media,  alis   ant.  dilute  griseo-ochreis,   fusco-nebulosis,  maculis 
costse  duabus,  tertia  dorsi  antica,  punctis  ad  basim  plerisque,  disci 
tribus,  lineaque  postica  flexuosa  nigrescentibus  ;    post,  griseis. 

(f  $.17-19  mm.  Head  whitish-ochreous,  crown  suffused  with 
dark  fuscous.  Palpi  whitish-ochreous  mixed  with  dark  fuscous, 
basal  half  and  subapical  ring  of  second  joint  dark  fuscous.  An- 
tennae pale  greyish-ochreous,  obscurely  ringed  with  dark  fuscous, 
ciliations  in  S  whorled.  Thorax  blaokish-f  uscous,  slightly  mixed 
with  pale  ochreous,  with  suffused  whitish-ochreous  lateral  and 
posterior  spots.  Abdomen  whitish-ochreous.  Legs  dark  fuscous, 
central  ring  of  tibise,  apex  of  all  joints,  and  hairs  of  posterior  tibiae, 
whitish-ochreous.  Fore  wings  moderate,  posteriorly  distinctly 
dilated,  costa  moderately  arched,  apex  rounded,  hindmargin 
obliquely  rounded  ;  pale  dull  whitish-grey-ochreous,  irregularly 
irrorated  with  blackish-fuscous  ;  four  or  five  small  irregular 
variable  blackish  spots  towards  base  ;  a  narrow  sufiused  often 
indistinct  dark  fuscous  fascia  from  ^  of  costa  to  ^  of  inner  margin, 
including  a  small  blackish  spot  on  costa,  another  in  disc,  and  a 
third  rather  larger  on  fold  ;  a  small  suffused  blackish  spot  on  costa 
slightly  beyond  middle  ;  a  small  black  spot  in  disc  beyond  middle, 
and  a  smaller  less  distinct  spot  oblique  beneath  and  before  it, 
sometimes  partially  confluent ;  these  are  sometimes  connected  with 
second  costal    spot    by  a    fuscous    shade;    an    indistinct   fuscous 


354  DESCRIPTIONS    OF   MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

suffusion  above  anal  angle ;  a  transverse  row  of  suffused  parti- 
ally confluent  blackish-fuscous  spots  from  costa  at  *  to  before 
anal  angle ;  outwards-curved,  dilated  on  costa,  sharply  indented 
inwards  above  middle  :  a  hindmarginal  row  of  very  suffused  dark 
fuscous  spots  :  cilia  pale  whitish-ochreous,  basal  half  obscurely 
barred  with  dark  fuscous.  Hindwings  fuscous-grey,  paler  towards 
base  ;  cilia  grey-whitish,  with  an  indistinct  grey  line. 

Proportionately  shorter-winged  than  any  other  species ;  well 
characterised  also  by  the  conspicuous  blackish  costal  spots,  (larger 
and  coarser  than  in  Fhloe.  psephojjhora),  and  the  tendency  of  the 
discal  dots  to  form  with  these  transverse  fasciae. 

Brisbane,  Sydney  and  Melbourne,  from  September  to  December ; 
tolerably  common,  principally  at  light.  Walker's  type  is  said  to 
be  from  Tasmania,  which  is  not  unlikely. 

141.   Fhloe.  coiifusella,  Walk. 

{Oecophora  confusella,  Walk.,  Brit.  Mus.  Cat.,  682.) 
Major,  alis  ant.  ochreo-albidis,  fusco-sparsis,  fascia  antica  lata 
perobliqua,  altera  post  medium   abbreviata   cum  tertia  ex  apice 
conjuncta,  macula  costae    parva    antica    punctisque    disci    duobus 
saturate  fuscis  ;  post,  albido-flavis,  apicem  versus  griseo-suffusis. 

cf  ? .,  18-27  mm.  Head  dark  fuscous,  face  whitish-ochreous. 
Palpi  whitish-ochreous,  basal  half  and  subapical  ring  of  second 
joint  dark  fuscous,  terminal  joint  dark  fuscous  except  extreme  base 
and  apex.  Antennae  dark  fuscous.  Thorax  dark  fuscous,  with 
small  lateral  and  posterior  ochreous- whitish  spots.  Abdomen 
whitish-yellow.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  central  ring  of  tibiae,  apex  of 
all  joints,  and  hairs  of  posterior  tibiae  whitish  yellowish.  Fore- 
wings  moderate,  costa  gently  arched,  apex  rounded,  hindmargin 
obliquely  rounded  ;  ochreous-white,  coarsely  irrorated  with  dark 
fuscous  j  a  rather  broad  irregular-  edged  dark  fuscous  fascia  from 
costa  almost  at  base  to  ^  of  inner  margin,  considerably  dilated 
beneath  ;  a  small  oblique  cloudy  dark  fuscous  spot  on  costa  at  J  ; 
a  large  blackish  dot  in  disc  before  middle,  and  another  below 
middle  ;  a  moderately  broad  irregular  dark  fuscous  fascia,  attenu- 
ated beneath  costa,  from  costa  beyond  middle  almost  to  anal  angle  ; 


BY    E.  MEYRICK,  B.A,  355 

a  broad  inwardly  oblique  dark  fuscous  blotch  from  costa  before 
apex,  confluent  with  extremity  of  central  fascia,  emitting  from 
middle  of  posterior  edge  a  partially  interrupted  dark  fuscous  line 
very  near  hindmargin  to  inner  margin  before  anal  angle ;  a  hind- 
marginal  row  of  ill-defined  dark  fuscous  dots  :  cilia  ochreous- 
whitish,  mixed  with  grey,  with  a  suffused  grey  line,  basal  half 
obscurely  barred  with  dark  fuscous.  Hindwings  whitish-yellowish, 
towards  apex  more  or  less  broadly  suffused  with  grey ;  cilia 
whitish,  more  yellowish  towards  base,  with  an  indistinct  grey  line, 
and  sometimes  a  second  before  tips. 

Very  distinct  by  the  pale  yellowish  hindwings,  and  broad 
oblique  anterior  fascia. 

Sydney  and    Melbourne,  in   December   and    January ;    locally 

common  at  rest  on  the  trunks  of  Eucalyptus,  especially  in  the 

Sydney  parks. 

142.  Phloe.  synchyta,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  niveis,  costae  basi  lineaque  prope  basim  obliqua 
nigrescentibus,  disco  usque  ad  dorsum  fusco-suffuso,  macula  costte 
post  medium  parva  alteraque  postica  angulum  analem  versus 
producta  saturate  fuscis  ;  post,  griseis. 

cf  $.  16|-19  mm.  Head  snow-white.  Palpi  white,  base  and  a 
slender  subapical  ring  of  second  joint  dark  fuscous,  terminal  joint 
dark  fuscous  except  towards  base.  Antennae  whitish,  obscurely 
ringed  with  fuscous.  Thorax  dark  fuscous,  with  a  small  white 
spot  on  each  side,  and  a  larger  one  behind.  Abdomen  ochreous- 
whitish.  Anterior  and  middle  legs  dark  fuscous,  central  ring  of 
tibiae  and  apex  of  all  joints  whitish ;  posterior  legs  ochreous- 
whitish.  Forewings  rather  elongate,  costa  gently  arched,  apex 
round-pointed,  hindmargin  very  obliquely  rounded  ;  snow-white, 
thinly  and  irregularly  strewn  with  dark  fuscous  scales  ;  a  very 
small  dark  fuscous  spot  at  base  of  costa  ;  a  sharply-defined  slender 
dark  fuscous  streak  from  inner  margin  almost  at  base  to  costa  at  5, 
somewhat  inwards-curved,  with  a  blunt  tooth  projecting  towards 
basal  spot,  and  interrupted  immediately  below  costa ;  a  small 
irregular  dark  fuscous  spot  on  costa  slightly  beyond  middle  ;  an 
irregular  variable    cloudy   fuscous    suffusion    in    middle    of    disc, 


356 

extending  to  inner  margin,  containing  one  or  two  darker  spots,  and 
leaving  a  small  white  spot  in  disc  beyond  middle  ;  a  broad  inwardly 
obliqne  ill-defined  dark  fuscous  blotch  from  costa  before  apex, 
sometimes  confluent  beneath  with  discal  suffusion,  lighter  and 
more  suffused  towards  disc  ;  two  or  three  small  dark  fuscous  spots 
near  lower  part  of  hindraargin  :  cilia  white,  towards  tips  mixed 
with  grey,  on  basal  half  barred  with  dark  fuscous.  Hindwings 
rather  light  fuscous-grey  ;  cilia  grey- whitish. 

Conspicuously  distinct  from  all  by  the  clear  white  ground  colour, 
and  the  dark  inwards-curved  transverse  streak  from  near  base  of 
inner  margin. 

Sydney,  in  January ;  three  specimens  at  rest  on  tree  trunks. 

143.  Phloe.  banausa,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  dilute  ochreis,  saturate  fusco-nebulosis,  maculis 
costas  duabus,  tertia  postica  magna  lineam  transversam  emittente, 
quarta  dorsi,  antica  punctisque  disci  tribus  nigrescentibus,  puncto 
disci  ochreo-albido  ;  post,  albido-griseis  ;  palporum  articulo  apicali 
incrassato. 

$  ?.  18-22  mm.  Head  whitish-ochreous,  with  a  dark  fuscous 
spot  above  each  eye.  Palpi  wholly  dark  fuscous,  terminal  joint 
considerably  thickened.  Antennae  fuscous.  Thorax  dark  fuscous, 
slightly  mixed  with  pale  ochreous,  with  whitish-ochreous  lateral 
and  posterior  spots.  Abdomen  whitish-ochreous.  Legs  dark 
fuscous,  central  ring  of  tibiae,  apex  of  all  joints,  and  hairs  of 
posterior  tibiae  whitish-ochreous.  Fore  wings  elongate,  moderate, 
slightly  dilated,  costa  moderately  arched,  apex  rounded,  hindmargin 
obliquely  rounded  ;  whitish-ochreous,  coarsely  irrorated  with  dark 
fuscous,  and  irregularly  suffused  with  light  fuscous  in  disc  and 
towards  base ;  several  small  irregular  dark  fuscous  spots  at  base  ; 
a  suffused  irregular  dark  fuscous  spot  on  costa  at  ^,  another 
slightly  beyond  middle,  and  a  third,  larger  and  more  suffused,  on 
inner  margin  before  middle ;  a  small  round  dark  fuscous  spot  in 
disc  at  J,  and  a  second  on  fold  rather  before  it,  more  or  less  con- 
fluent with  dorsal  blotch  ;  a  third  similar  spot  beneath  costa  about 
middle,  and  a  fourth  in  disc  beyond  middle,  more  or  less  absorbed 


BY    E.  MEYRICK,  B.A.  357 

in  diseal  siiffusion ;  beneath  the  fourth  is  a  small  clear  whitish- 
ochreoiis  dot  :  a  broad  inwardly  oblique  dark  fuscous  blotch  from 
costa  before  apex,  preceded  by  a  clear  whitish-ochreous  spot  on 
costa,  and  emitting  a  suffused  dark  fuscous  attenuated  streak  to 
before  anal  angle  ;  the  narrow  hindmarginal  space  beyond  this  is 
clear  whitish-ochreous  ;  a  row  of  small  triangular  dark  fuscous 
spots  along  hindmargin :  cilia  whitish-ochreous,  posteriorly  suffused 
with  grey,  basal  half  obscurely  barred  with  dark  fuscous.  Hind- 
wings  whitish-grey,  apex  somewhat  darker  ;  cilia  whitish-grey, 
base  pale. 

Yar.  a.  Head  suffused  above  with  dark  fuscous  ;  markings  of 
fore  wings  almost  wholly  lost  in  general  dark  fuscous  suffusion. 
Hindwings  grey. 

Var.  h.  Similar  to  var.  «,  but  with  the  whitish  diseal  dot  well- 
defined. 

Although  variable  in  respect  of  the  dark  fuscous  suffusion, 
always  immediately  recognisable  by  the  palpi,  which  are  wholly 
dark  fuscous,  with  the  terminal  joint  peculiarly  thickened. 

Common ;  the  typical  form  taken  at  Sydney  and  Blackheath 
(3,500  feet)  in  New  South  Wales,  and  Melbourne  and  Fernshawin 
Victoria  ;  var.  a.  at  Deloraine,  Tasmania  (two  specimens)  ;  var.  6. 
at  Adelaide  (four  specimens)  ;  from  September  to  November. 

144.   Phloe.  exarcha,  n.  sp. 

Major,  alls  ant.  albido-ochreis,  ochreo-fusco  suffusis,  nigi-o- 
irroratis,  strigula  costse  ad  basim  obliqua,  maculis  costge  duabus, 
punctis  disci  quatuor  (quarto  majusculo),  lineaque  postica  nebulosa 
nigrescentibus ;  post,  griseis,  basin  versus  dilutioribus. 

cT.  27  mm.  Head  whitish-ochreous.  Palpi  whitish-ochreous, 
externally  sprinkled  with  dark  fuscous,  basal  \  of  second  joint  and 
a  median  band  of  terminal  joint  dark  fuscous.  Antennae  greyish- 
ochreous.  Thorax  whitish-ochreous,  mixed  with  brownish,  anterior 
margin  and  a  mark  on  each  side  of  back  blackish-fuscous.  Abdomen 
whitish-grey.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  central  ring  of  tibiee  and  apex  of 
all  joints  whitish-ochreous,  hairs  of  posterior  tibiae  ochreous- 
whitish.       Fore  wings    rather     elongate,    moderate,     costa   gentl}' 


358  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

avchecl,  apex  rounded,  hindmargin  obliquely  rounded  ;  whitish- 
ochreous,  irregularly  suffused  with  ochreous-brown,  and  irrorated 
with  blackish  :  a  short  very  oblique  black  mark  from  base  of  costa  ; 
a  cloudy  blackish  spot  on  costa  at  ^,  and  another  somewhat 
beyond  middle  ;  a  very  small  black  spot  in  disc  at  J,  a  second 
directly  beneath  it  on  fold,  a  third  in  disc  a  little  beyond  first,  and  a 
fourth,  larger  and  roundish,  in  disc  beyond  middle,  in  a  line  with 
first  and  third ;  a  cloudy  blackish  outwards-curved  transverse  line 
from  J  of  costa  to  before  anal  angle,  sharply  indented  inwards 
above  middle,  the  indentation  filled  up  with  blackish  :  cilia  pale 
whitish-ochreous,  with  a  faint  fuscous  line  before  tips,  basal  half 
obscurely  barred  with  fuscous.  Hind  wings  fuscous-grey,  consi- 
derably paler  towards  base  ;  cilia  ochreous-whitish,  with  two 
cloudy  grey  lines. 

Distinguished  amongst  the  species  with  forewings  not  dilated, 
by  the  large  size,  ochreous-brown  suffusion,  and  blackish  oblique 
mark  at  base  of  costa. 

Mount  Gambler,  South  Australia,  in  November ;  one  fine 
specimen  on  a  trunk  of  Eucalyptus  Gunydi. 

145.  Phloe.  lithoglypta,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant,  griseo  albidis,  lineis  duabus  anticis  transversis 
fiexuosis,  fasciisque  duabas  posticis  latis  saturate  ochreo-fuscis, 
punctis  disci  tribus  maculaque  parva  fascise  primse  media  nigres- 
centibus  ;  post,  fuscis. 

$.  17  mm.  Head  v^diitish.  Palpi  dark  fuscous,  apex  of  second 
joint  and  a  band  above  middle  suffiisedly  whitish.  Antennae  dark 
fuscous.  Thorax  dark  ochreous-fuscous,  lateral  margins  whitish. 
Abdomen  whitish-ochreous.  Anterior  and  middle  legs  dark 
fuscous,  central  ring  of  tibiae  and  apex  of  all  joints  whitish- 
ochreous ;  posterior  legs  whitish-ochreous.  Forewings  elongate, 
moderate,  costa  moderate^ly  arched,  apex  rounded,  hindmargin 
very  obliquely  rounded  ;  grey-whitish,  with  a  few  scattered  dark 
fuscous  scales;  extreme  costal  edge  ochreous- tinged  ;  a  small  dark 
fuscous  spot  on  inner  margin  at  base  ;  an  ill-defined  irregular 
somewhat  outwards-curved  dark  fuscous  streak  from  base  of  costa 


BY    E.  MEYRICK,   B.A.  359 

to  inner  margin  afc  J  ;  a  similar  partially  interrupted  streak  from 
J  of  costa  to  J  of  inner  margin,  more  reddish-ochreous  in  disc  ;  a 
dark  fuscous  dot  in  disc  before  middle,  a  second  below  and  obliquely 
beyond  first,  and  a  third  directly  beyond  second  ;  a  moderately 
broad  irregular-edged  ochreous-brown  fascia  from  costa  beyond 
middle  to  inner  margin  before  anal  angle,  and  a  broad  triangular 
ochreous-brown  patch  on  apical  fourth  of  costa,  extending  to  anal 
angle,  and  almost  confluent  with  the  transverse  fascia  and  with 
hindmargin,  both  marked  with  short  dark  streaks  on  veins ;  a 
small  round  dark  fuscous  spot  in  middle  of  fascia  ;  a  hind  marginal 
row  of  elongate  cloudy  ochreous-fuscous  spots  ;  cilia  grey-whitish, 
with  a  broad  cloudy  ochreous-grey  median  line.  Hindwings 
fuscous  ;  cilia  whitish-ochreous,  with  an  indistinct  fuscous  line. 

A  distinct  species,  easily  known  by  the  grey-whitish  ground- 
colour, and  ochreous-brown  anterior  lines  and  posterior  fasciae. 

Sydney,  in  November ;  one  fine  specimen  on  the  trunk  of 
Eucalyiytus  sp. 

146.   Phlbe.  melaoiodelta,  n.  sp. 

Minor,  alis  ant.  ochreo-fuscis,  maculis  costse  tribus  saturatioribus, 
triangulo  dorsi  antico  magno  maculaque  disci  parva  nigrescentibus  ; 
post,  griseis,  basim  versus  dilutioribus. 

(f.  13-17  mm.  Head  pale  whitish-ochreous,  on  crown  mixed 
with  dark  fuscous.  Palpi  pale  whitish-ochreous,  mixed  with  dark 
fuscous,  basal  half  and  a  subapical  ring  of  second  joint,  and 
terminal  joint  except  base  and  apex  dark  fuscous.  Antennse 
greyish-ochreous  or  fuscous,  ciliations  f .  Thorax  whitish-  ochreous, 
mixed  anteriorly  with  dark  fuscous  and  reddish-ochreous.  Abdo- 
men ochreous-whitish.  Anterior  and  middle  leojs  dark  fuscous, 
central  ring  of  tibiae  and  apex  of  all  joints  ochreous-whitish; 
posterior  legs  grey-whitish.  Forewings  moderate,  costa  moderately 
arched,  apex  rounded,  hindmargin  obliquely  rounded  ;  fuscous, 
irrorated  with  ochreous-whitish  and  dark  fuscous  ;  base  indistinctly 
spotted  with  blackish-fuscous;  a  small  suffused  blackish-fuscous 
spot  on  costa  at  ^,  and  a  second  beyond  middle  ;  a  dark  fuscous 
irregularly  triangular  sharply  defined  blotch  on  inner  margin  before 
middle,    more   blackish   towards  apex,  reaching   more  than   half 


360  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

across  wing ;  a  small  round  blackish-fuscous  spot  on  disc  beyond 
middle  ;  a  dark  fuscous  inwardly  oblique  spot  on  costa  before  apex, 
l^receded  by  a  clearer  whitish  ochreous  space,  and  emitting  an 
indistinct  interrupted  curved  line  to  anal  angle  ;  a  row  of  small 
suffused  dark  fuscous  spots  on  hindmargin  :  cilia  pale  whitish- 
ochreous,  irrorated  with  fuscous,  basal  half  more  ochreous  and 
obsciirely  barred  with  dark  fuscous.  Hindwings  fuscous-grey, 
paler  towards  base ;  cilia  grey- whitish,  with  an  indistinct  darker 
line. 

The  smallest  species  of  the  genus,  and  with  the  antennae  more 
shortly  ciliated  than  any  other  ;  differing  from  all  by  the  sharply 
defined  dark  fuscous  triangular  dorsal  spot. 

Brisbane  in  Se})tember,  and  Sydney  in  December  ;  four  speci- 
mens, mostly  on  the  trunks  of  Banhsia.  I  have  found,  but  not 
succeeded  in  breeding,  a  larva  feeding  on  the  bark  of  Banksia,  in 
a  loose  web  among  the  crevices,  w^hich  I  expected  to  produce  this 
species. 

29.  Sphyrelata  Meyr. 

Head  with  loosely  appressed  scales,  sidetufts  moderately  large, 
loosely  appressed.  Antennae  in  cf  stout,  strongly  serrate,  minutely 
ciliated  {^),  basal  joint  moderate,  without  pecten,  or  with  two  or 
three  fugitive  scales.  Palpi  moderate,  second  joint  not  exceeding 
base  of  antennae,  dilated  with  dense  appressed  scales,  thickest  in 
middle,  somewhat  rough  beneath,  terminal  joint  shorter  than 
second,  moderate,  recurved.  Thorax  with  dense  posterior  crest. 
Forewings  elongate,  moderate,  apex  obtusely  pointed,  hindmargin 
obliquely  rounded.  Hindwings  rather  narrower  than  forewings, 
elongate-ovate,  hindmargin  rounded,  cilia  f  to  1.  Abdomen  rather 
dilated,  somewhat  flattened.  Middle  tibiae  with  median  whorl  of 
projecting  hairs  ;  posterior  tibise  clothed  with  long  fine  hairs  above. 
Forewings  with  vein  7  to  apex,  2  from  or  slightly  before  angle  of 
cell.      Hindwings  normal. 

This  genus  closely  approaches  Phlc&opola,  from  which  it  is  dis- 
tinguished mainly  by  the  antennae  of  the  $ ,  which  are  stouter, 
more  strongly  serrate,  and  very  shortly  ciliated.  I  regard  it  as  an 
offshoot  of  Phlceopola.     It  is  uncertain  whether  the  first  species 


BY    E,  MEYRICK,  B.A..  361 

ouglit  not  to  be  referred  to  a  distincc  gen  as,   since  it  seems  to 
possess  a  more  developed  antennal  pecten. 

la.  Groundcolour  white 149.  melanoleuca. 

lb.  ,,  wliitish-ochreous. 

2a.   Hindwings      wliitish-ochreous    or   yellow 

towards  base   148.  indecorella. 

2b.    Hind  wings  wholly  grey 147.   ochrophcea. 

14:7.   Sphyr.  (?)  ochrophcea,  n.  sp. 

Minor,  alis  ant.  ochreo-fuscis,  disco  leviter  roseo-sufFuso,  basi 
costaque  saturatioribus,  punctis  disci  tribus  saturate  fuscis  ]  post, 
dilute  griseis. 

$  ?.  15-18  mm.  Head  wliitish-ochreous,  crown  ochreous. 
Palpi  wliitish-ochreous,  terminal  joint  and  base  of  second  suffused 
with  dark  fuscous.  Antennae  dark  fuscous  Thorax  whitish- 
ochreous,  anteriorly  more  ochreous  with  a  few  dark  fuscous  scales, 
anterior  edge  dark  fuscous.  Abdomen  wliitish-ochreous.  Anterior 
and  middle  legs  dark  fuscous,  central  ring  of  middle  tibise  and 
apex  of  all  joints  whitish-ochreous  ;  posterior  legs  whitish-ochreous, 
base  of  tarsal  joints  dark  fuscous.  Fore  wings  elongate,  moderate, 
costa  gently  arched,  apex  rounded,  hindmargin  very  obliquely 
rounded  ;  whitish-ochreous,  suffused  with  light  fuscous  and  to- 
wards disc  with  rosy-ochreous,  and  densely  irrorated  with  dark 
fuscous  ;  the  dark  fuscous  suffusion  is  stronger  towards  base,  along 
costa,  and  at  apex  ;  a  dark  fuscous  dot  in  disc  before  middle,  a 
second  beyond  middle,  sometimes  connected  with  first  by  a  clear 
ochreous  streak,  and  a  third  on  fold  slightly  beyond  first :  cilia 
whitish-ochreous,  mixed  with  dark  fuscous,  basal  third  barred 
with  rosy-ochreous  and  dark  fuscous.  Hind  wings  light  grey  ;  cilia 
grey-whitish. 

Somewhat  peculiar  in  structure  ;  there  are  distinct  traces  of  an 
antennal  pecten,  which  may  perhaps  be  developed  in  fresh  speci- 
mens;  the  hairs  of  the  head  (at  least  in  J")  are  very  dense  and 
somewhat  loosely  dilated  ;  the  thoracic  crest  appears  slightly 
developed.  With  further  material  it  may  be  necessary  to  form  a 
fresh  genus  for  this  species. 


362  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

Brisbane  and  Sydney,  from  September  to  December  ;  five 
specimens. 

148.  Spliyr.  indecorella,  Walk. 

[Gryptolechia  indecorella,  Walk.,  Brit.  Mus.  Cat.,  764;  Oeco- 
pliora  amotella,  ib.  1034.) 

Minor,  alis  ant.  albido-ochreis,  fascia  latissima  antica,  altera  post 
medium  modica,  maculaque  costae  anteapicali  lineam  transversam 
emittente  saturate  fuscis,  punctis  disci  quatuor  nigris  ;  post.  J* 
flavis,  ?  albido-ochreis,  dimidio  apicali  fusco. 

$  ?.  15-17  mm.  Head  and  palpi  whitisb-ochreous,  basal  third 
of  second  joint  and  more  or  less  of  terminal  joint  suffused  with 
dark  fuscous.  Antennae  light  ochreous,  base  dark  fuscous. 
Thorax  whitish-ochreous,  anterior  half  dark  fuscous.  Abdomen 
whitish-ochreous.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  central  ring  of  middle  tibiee, 
hairs  of  posterior  tibiae,  and  apex  of  all  joints  whitish-ochreous. 
Fore  wings  elongate,  costa  moderately  arched,  apex  rounded,  hind- 
margin  very  obliquely  rounded ;  pale  whitish-ochreous ;  a  very 
broad  oblique  anterior  dark  fuscous  fascia,  inner  edge  very  near 
base,  outer  edge  from  ?  of  costa  to  middle  of  inner  margin,  irregu- 
larly concave ;  a  moderate  irregular-edged  straight  dark  fuscous 
fascia  from  beyond  middle  of  costa  to  anal  angle  ;  a  blackish  dot 
in  disc  on  margin  of  first  fascia,  another  on  inner  margin  of  secoiid, 
a  third,  minute,  between  these,  and  a  fourth  on  fold  on  margin  of 
first  fascia  ;  a  dark  fuscous  subtriangular  blotch  on  costa  before 
apex,  emitting  a  curved  dark  fuscous  line  to  anal  angle ;  some 
small  cloudy  confluent  dark  fuscous  spots  on  hindmargin  :  cilia 
pale  whitish-ochreous,  towards  base  obscurely  barred  with  dark 
fuscous,  above  costal  blotch  and  on  anal  angle  wholly  dark  fuscous. 
Hindwings  in  ^  ochreous-yellow,  in  9  whitish-ochreous,  apical 
half  and  a  hindmarginal  border  suffused  wdth  fuscous-grey  ;  cilia 
fuscous-grey. 

A  very  distinctly  characterised  species. 

Sydney  and  Mittagong  (2000  feet),  New  South  Wales,  in 
February  and  March  ;  three  specimens. 


i 


BY    E.  MEYRICK,  B.A.  363 

149.  Sphyr.  melanaleuca,  n.  sp. 

Minor,  alls  ant.  niveis,  macula  basali  magna,  altera  costEe  media, 
tertia  dorsi  postica  suffusa  cum  hac  conjuncta,  quarta  apicis  nigris ; 
post,  dilute  griseis. 

(^.  13-14  mm.  Head,  antennse,  and  thorax  blackish-fuscous, 
face  whitish.  Palpi  white,  basal  half  and  subapical  ring  of  second 
joint,  and  terminal  joint  more  or  less  wholly  blackish-fuscous. 
Abdomen  whitish-grey.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  central  ring  of  middle 
tibiae  and  apex  of  all  joints  ochreous- white,  hairs  of  posterior  tibiae 
grey-whitish.  Forewings  elongate,  moderate,  costa  moderately 
arched,  apex  rounded,  hindmargin  very  obliquely  rounded  ;  white, 
in  disc  partially  yellowish-tinged ;  basal  third  wholly  blackish- 
fuscous,  outer  edge  slightly  concave  ;  a  large  irregular  blackish- 
fuscous  blotch  on  middle  of  costa,  reaching  half  across  wing;  a 
dark  fuscous  suffused  blotch  on  inner  margin,  extending  almost 
from  middle  to  anal  angle,  above  partially  confluent  with  costal 
blotch  ;  a  minute  blackish  dot  in  disc  above  fold  before  this  ;  a 
subquadrate  blackish-fuscous  apical  blotch,  and  hindmarginal  edge 
blackish-fuscous :  cilia  ochreous- white,  towards  tips  greyish  tinged, 
towards  base  mixed  with  blackish-fuscous,  above  apical  blotch 
wholly  blackish-fuscous.  Hindwings  light  grey,  apex  somewhat 
darker ;  cilia  whitish-grey,  with  a  suffused  darker  line. 

Also  a  very  distinct  species. 

Sydney,  in  October  j  four  specimens  at  light. 

30.   HiEROPOLA  Meyr. 

Head  smooth,  sidetufts  moderately  large,  loosely  appressed, 
projecting  somewhat  between  antennae.  Antennae  in  cf  slender, 
serrate,  moderately  ciliated  (1),  basal  joint  stout,  without  pecten. 
Palpi  long,  second  joint  very  long,  exceeding  base  of  antennae  by 
half  its  length,  obliquely  ascending,  thickened  with  appressed 
scales,  somewhat  roughened  beneath  towards  apex,  terminal  joint 
less  than  half  second,  slender,  erect.  Thorax  smooth.  Forewings 
elongate,  apex  almost  acute,  hindmargin  very  obliquely  round. 
Hindwings   narrow   than  forewings,  elongate   ovate,  hindmargin 


364  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

rounded,  cilia  1.  Abdomen  moderate.  Posterior  tibiae  smoothly 
scaled,  with  a  few  hairs  above.  Fore  wings  with  vein  7  to  apex,  2 
from  considerably  before  angle  of  cell.     Hindwings  normal. 

This  genus  is  at  present  rather  isolated.  In  the  structure  of  the 
palpi,  and  the  yellew  and  rosy  colouring  it  recalls  Hypercallia, 
which  differs  in  venation.  Until  some  connecting  forms  are 
discovered,  it  cannot  be  determined  whether  the  genus  should 
be  placed  here,  or,  as  is  very  possible,  referred  to  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Hoiilitica. 

150.  Hier.  jucundella,  Walk. 

(Tisoharica  juGundella,  Walk.,  Brit.  Mus.  Cat.  813.) 
Minor,   alls    ant.    dilute    flavis,    macula     basali,   fasciis  tribus 
obliquis,   quarta  etiara  marginis   postici  roseis,    interdum  griseo 
irroratis ;  post,  ochreo-albidis. 

$  ?.  13-14  mm.  Head  snow-white,  side  tufts  yellowish- 
tinged,  round  antennae  rosy.  Palpi  snow-white,  a  subapical  ring 
of  second  joint  yellowish-tinged,  a  broad  median  band  of  terminal 
joint  dark  fuscous.  Antennae  white,  annulated  with  dark  fuscous, 
basal  joint  yellowish-tinged.  Thorax  pale  yellow,  anterior  margin 
white,  with  an  irregular  rosy  spot  on  each  side  of  back,  and  some- 
times another  behind.  Abdomen  ochreous-whitish.  Legs  white, 
anterior  tibiae  with  two  faint  ochreous  bands.  Forewings  elongate, 
costa  moderately  arched,  apex  round-pointed,  hindmargin  very 
obliquely  rounded ;  light  yellow ;  markings  light  carmine-rosy, 
often  irrorated  partially  or  completely  with  bluish-grey,  and  more 
or  less  completely  margined  with  dark  fuscous ;  an  irregular 
elongate  spot  from  base  very  near  inner-margin  to  5 ;  a  narrow 
irregular  slightly  outwards-curved  fascia  from  costa  near  base  to 
inner  margin  before  middle,  dilated  abruptly  on  inner  margin, 
connected  in  middle  with  extremity  of  basal  spot ;  a  similar 
broader  fascia  from  before  middle  of  costa  to  f  of  inner  margin, 
connected  below  middle  by  bar  with  dorsal  extremity  of  first  fascia, 
attenuated  below  this,  posterior  edge  with  two  projecting  teeth  ;  a 
narrow  irregular  fascia  from  beyond  middle  of  costa  to  anal  angle, 
dilated  towards  costa,  anterior  edge  with  a  sharp  projecting  tooth 
in   middle  ;   a   hindmarginal  fascia,  rather  broad   on    costa   and 


BY    E.    MEYRICK,    B.A.  365 

gradually  attenuated  to  anal  angle  :  cilia  pale  yellow,  with  a  deep 
yellow  median  line,  on  anal  angle  and  above  hind  marginal  fascia 
pale  rosy-grey.  Hindwings  ochreous-whitish,  m.ore  ochreous 
posteriorly ;  cilia  ochreous-whitish. 

A  beautiful  insect,  rather  variable. 

Brisbane,  Newcastle,  and  Sydney,  from  September  to  November  ; 
local,  but  rather  common  ;  near  Sydney  frequenting  Eugenia,  at 
Brisbane  Eucalyptus, 

31.   PiLOPREPES  Meyr. 

Head  loosely  haired,  sidetufts  large,  spreading.  Antennae  in  $ 
moderate,  moderately  and  evenly  ciliated  (IJ),  basal  joint  stout, 
with  strong  pecten.  Palpi  moderate,  second  joint  not  reaching 
base  of  antennoe,  densely  scaled,  somewhat  roughened  beneath  to- 
wards apex,  terminal  joint  rather  shorter  than  second,  moderate, 
curved.  Thorax  with  a  small  posterior-  crest.  Forewings  elongate, 
moderate,  apex  rounded,  hindmargin  oblique ;  surface  with  tufts 
of  raised  scales.  Hindwings  narrower  than  forewings,  elongate- 
ovate,  hindmargin  rounded,  cilia  \.  Abdomen  moderate.  Anterior 
tibiae  and  basal  joint  of  tarsi  very  strongly  dilated  with  long  dense 
hairs  ;  middle  tibiae  densely  clothed  with  hairs  ;  posterior  tibiae 
clothed  with  long  fine  hairs  above.  Forewings  with  vein  7  to  apex, 
2  from  before  angle  of  cell.     Hindwings  normal. 

Closely  allied  to  Trachypepla,  from  which  it  differs  in  the  strongly 
dilated  anterior  tibige ;  it  is  doubtless  a  late  development  of 
Trachypepla.  The  first  species  does  not  perhaps  belong  to  this 
genus  ;  the  ^  is  unknown,  and  the  tips  of  the  wings  are  imperfect ; 
so  that  the  neuration  cannot  be  absolutely  determined,  yet  it  seems 
to  belong  to  this  neighbourhood  ;  the  dilated  tarsi  and  tibiae  are, 
however,  not  conclusive,  as  they  occur  in  other  and  remote  genera. 

1  a.  Hindwings  dark  grey 152.  cemulella. 

lb.  „  whitish-yellow .151.  iriodes. 

151.    Pilopr.  (? )  iriodes,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  niveis,  dimidio  antico  roseo-suffuso,  fasciis 
duabus  anticis  obliquis  saturate  flavis,  postice  rufo-marginatis, 
macula  disci  postica  glauca  flavo-cincta,  margine  postico  ilavo ; 
post,  dilute  albido-flavis. 


366  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    MICEO-LEPIDOPTEEA, 

$.18  mm.  Head  glossy  ochreoiis-whitish,  sicletufts deep golden- 
ochreous.  Palpi  white,  externally  oclireous-tinged.  Antennae 
whitish-ochreous.  Thorax  pearly-white,  mixed  with  ochreous  and 
light  rosy  (partly  defaced).  Abdomen  and  legs  ochreous- whitish > 
anterior  tibiae  deep  ochreous  above.  Forewings  moderate,  costa 
moderately  arched,  hindmargin  obliquely  rounded  ;  pearly  white  ; 
anterior  half  suffused  with  light  carmine  rosy  ;  an  irregular  deep 
orange-yellow  fascia  from  base  of  costa  to  inner  margin  before 
middle,  and  a  second  somewhat  broader  from  before  middle  of 
costa  to  beyond  middle  of  inner  margin,  both  attenuated  and 
partially  obsolete  on  inner  margin,  and  posteriorly  margined  with 
reddish-fuscous,  connected  on  fold  by  a  spot  of  orange-yellow  and 
reddish-fuscous  partially  raised  scales ;  a  very  pale  greyish-blue  • 
oval  spot  towards  hindmargin  in  middle,  surrounded  by  a  broad 
ring  of  irregularly  scattered  orange-yellow  scales,  which  touches 
central  fascia  and  apex  ;  hindmargin  narrowly  orange-yellow  : 
cilia  white,  slightly  mixed  with  yellow,  with  an  orange-yellow  line 
round  apex.  Hindwings  pale  whitish-yellow,  base  paler  ;  cilia  pale 
whitish-yellow. 

A  singular  and  very  delicately  coloured  insect. 

Sydney,  in  November  ;  one  specimen,  not  in  very  good  condition. 

152.   Pilopr.  cemulella,  Walk. 

(Oecophora  cemulella,  Walk.,  Brit.  Mus.  Cat.,  697.) 
Minor,    alls    ant.    saturate  flavo-ochraceis,    fascia    antica    lata, 
macula  disci  postica  transversa  magna,   altera  anguli  analis  parva, 
strigulaque  ante  apicum  obliqua  niveis  ;  post,  saturate  griseis, 

<?  ?.  15-16^  mm.  Face  snow-white,  sidetufts  ochreous-orange 
mixed  with  white.  Palpi  white,  partially  suffused  with  ochreous- 
orange,  and  with  scattered  dark  fuscous  scales.  Antennae  whitish, 
obscurely  ringed  with  fuscous.  Thorax  white,  posteriorly  irregu- 
larly spotted  with  reddish- ochreous,  anterior  margin  broadly 
reddish-ochreous.  Abdomen  pale  ochreous,  mixed  with  grey. 
A  nterior  legs  brownish-ochreous  suffused  with  dark  fuscous,  second 
tarsal  joint  and  apical  half  of  first  snow-white ;  middle  tibiae 
ochreous,  with  two  oblique  dark  fuscous  bands,    apex  white,  tarsi 


BY    E.    MEYRICK,    B.A. 


367 


(lark  fuscous,  with  white  rings  at  apex  of  joints ;  posterior  legs 
whitish-ochreous  ;  all  femora  pearly  white  beneath.  Forewings 
moderate,  costa  moderately  arched,  apex  rounded,  hindmargin 
obliquely  rounded  ;  deep  ochreous-orange,  more  brownish-tinged 
towards  middle,  paler  posteriorly  ;  a  raised  tuft  very  near  base  ;  a 
bi-oad  snow^-white  fascia  from  ^  of  costa  to  J  of  inner  margin, 
i-ather  narrower  on  costa,  its  edges  irregularly  waved  ;  its  outer 
edge  with  three  raised  tufts,  followed  by  suffused  blackish  spots  ; 
a  small  blackish  spot  on  fold  beyond  middle  ;  posterior  half  of 
costa  with  ill-defined  oblique  whitish  strigulse  ;  ^  moderately  large 
irregularly  ovate  transverse  snow-white  spot  in  disc  beyond 
middle,  extending  from  near  costa  f  across  wing ;  beyond  middle 
of  posterior  margin  of  this  a  raised  tuft  mixed  with  black ;  a 
smaller  sub  triangular  snow-white  spot  on  anal  angle ;  an  irregular 
snow-white  spot  running  from  costa  before  apex  to  middle  of  hind- 
margin ;  a  slender  irregular  white  line  along  upper  half  of 
hindmargin  :  cilia  whitish-orange,  with  a  darker  median  line, 
Hindwings  dark  fuscous-grey,  base  paler;  cilia  pale  ochreous^ 
towards  anal  angle  greyish-tinged. 

Very  conspicuous  and  easily  recognised. 

Brisbane  and  Duaringa,  Queensland,   in  September  ;  six  speci- 
mens, from  Eucalyptus. 

32.  Trachypepla  Meyr. 
Head  loosely  haired,  sidetufts  moderate  or  rather  large,  loosely 
spreading.  Antenna?  in  <?  moderate,  somewhat  serrate,  moderately 
and  evenly  ciliated  (l-H),  rarely  with  fascicles  of  cilia,  basal  joint 
moderate,  with  strong  pecten.  Palpi  moderate  or  rather  short, 
second  joint  not  exceeding  base  of  antennae,  densely  scaled,  some- 
what rough  beneath,  terminal  joint  shorter  than  second,  moderate, 
recurved.  Thorax  smooth  or  with  a  distinct  crest.  Forewings 
elongate,  apex  round-pointed,  hindmargin  very  obliquely  rounded  ; 
surface  with  tufts  of  raised  scales.  Hindwings  narrower  than 
fore^vings,  elongate-ovate,  hindmargin  slightly  rounded,  cilia  f  to  1. 
Abdomen  moderate,  strongly  margined.  Posterior  tibise  clothed 
w^ith  fine  moderate  hairs  above.  Forewings  with  vein  7  to  apex,  2 
from  angle  of  cell.      Hindwings  normal. 


368  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

Allied  to  Eulechria^  from  which  it  differs  by  the  tufts  of  scales 
on  the  forewings.  The  genus  is  characteristic  of  New  Zealand, 
and  considerably  developed  there,  but  there  is  one  Australian 
species.  The  Australian  genus  Piloiweijes  is  certainly  closely  allied 
to  it,  and  so  (less  intimately)  is  the  European  Anchinia.  I  believe 
that  we  have  here  one  of  the  older  types  of  the  family,  now 
approaching  extinction.  Its  true  affinity  cannot  be  certainly 
demonstrated  at  present,  but  I  am  disposed  to  think  that  it  may  be 
regarded  as  originating  from  a  genus  intermediate  between 
Oecophora  and  Phloeopola,  and  as  collateral  with  but  older  than 
Phlceopola.  There  can  therefore  be  no  direct  connection  between 
Trachypepla  and  Eulechria. 

la.   Head  dark  fuscous. 

2a.  Forewings  with  clear  white  markinsfs. 

3a.  Basal  half  white 153.  leucoplaoietis. 

3b.        ,,     third     ,,      154.  euri/leucota. 

3c.        ,,     fifth      ,,     155.  consincuella. 

2b.        „     without  white  markings  161.  anastrella. 

lb.        ,,     light  greyish  or  ochreous. 

2a.  Hindwings  dark  fuscous 162.  Uchenodes. 

2b.  „  grey. 

3a.   Anterior  line  represented  by  two  tufts 163.  melanoptila. 

3b.  ,,  ,,    well-defined. 

4a.   Anterior  line  very  obtusely  angulated  157.  nyctoins. 

4b.  „  „    rectangularly         „       156.  spartodeta. 

4c.  „  ,,    acutely  „       159.  protochlora. 

2c.  ,,     grey-whitish 160.  aspidephora, 

Ic.  ,,     white 158.  galaxias. 

153.   Track,  leuco^ylanetts,  Meyr. 

Parva,  alls  ant.  dimidio  anfceriori  niveo,  posteriori  fusco,  costse 
basi  nigricante,  macula  costse  anteapicali  cum  linea  transversa 
conjuncta  nivea  ;  post,  griseis. 

Hamilton  and  the  Otira  River,  New  Zealand,  in  January ;  two 
specimens. 


BY    E.    MEYRICK,    B.A.  369 

154.    Track,  euryleucota,  Meyr. 

Minor,  alis  ant.  saturate  f  uscis,  macula  magna  basali  alteraque 
parva  costge  anteapicali  lineam  transversa ai  emittente  canis,  costae 
basi  nigra  ;  post,   saturate  griseis. 

New  Zealand,  from  Auckland  to  Dunedin,  in  January  ;  tolerably 
common. 

155.   Track,    consplcuella.  Walk. 

{Geleckia  conspicuella,  Walk.,  Brit.  Mus.  Cat.  651.) 

Minor,  alis  ant.  fuscis,  macula  ad  basim  transversa  angustiori, 
alteraque  parva  costse  anteapicali  nebulosa  lineam  trans versam 
emittente  canis ;  post,  griseis. 

Wellington  and  Christchurch,  New  Zealand,  in  December  and 
January  ;  common. 

156.    Track,  spartodeta,  Meyr. 

Minor,  alis  ant.  dilute  griseo-ochreis,  linea  antica  transversa, 
rectangulata,  altera  postica  sinuata,  maculaque  costae  media 
elongata  saturate  fuscis,  macula  disci  parva  ferruginea ;  post, 
dilute  griseis. 

Wellington,  New  Zealand,  in  January  ;  one  specimen. 

157.  Track.  Jiyctopis,  Meyr. 

Minor,  alis  ant.  griseis,  striga  antica  transversa  leviter  flexuosa 
nigra,  interdum  fascia  lata  pallidiore,  macula  costse  media  elongata 
lineaque  postica  transversa  sinuata  saturate  fuscis  ;  post,  griseis. 

Christchurch  and  Dunedin,  New  Zealand,  in  January  and 
February ;  common. 

158.  Track,  galaxias,  Meyr. 

Minor,  alis  ant.  canis,  griseo-sparsis,  postice  interdum  griseo- 
.  sufFusis,  fascia  ad  basim  lata  postice  fere  retangulata  nigroque 
marginata,  costse  triangulo  medio,  lineaque  postica  transversa 
sinuata  saturate  griseis  ;  post,  griseis. 

From  Hamilton  to  the  Bealey  River,  New  Zealand,  in  January  ; 
three  specimens. 


370  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

159.    Trach.  protochlora,  M&jv. 

Minor,  alls  ant.  albidis,  virescenti-suffasis,  fascia  ad  basim, 
costae  triangulo  medio,  maculaque  apicis  griseis,  linea  antica  trans- 
versa acute  angulata  nigra ;  post,  griseis. 

Palmerston  and  the  Otira  River,  New  Zealand,  from  January 
to  March  j  three  specimens. 

160.   Trach.   aspidephora,  Meyr. 

Minor,  alis  ant.  albidis,  leviter  ochreo-suffusis,  macula  costae 
postica  magna  subtriangulari  alteraque  apicis  parva  saturate 
griseis,  nigro-mixtis  ;  post,  griseo-albidis. 

Christchurch  and  Dunedin,  New  Zealand,  in  December  and 
January  ;  tolerably  common. 

161.  Trach.  anastrella,  Meyr. 

Minor,  alis  ant.  fuscis,  saturatiori-suffusis,  linea  antica  trans- 
versa, fere  rectangulata,  nigra,  altera  postica  sinuata  costseque 
triangulo  saturate  fuscis ;  post,  saturate  fuscis. 

From  Christchurch  to  Invercargill,  New  Zealand,  in  December, 
January  and  March  ;  tolerably  common. 

162.  Trach.  lichenodes,  Meyr. 

Minor,  alis  ant.  saturate  purpureo-fuscis,  partim  flavido-sparsis, 
maculis  disci  tribus  parvis  nigris,  macula  dorsi  ad  basim  albida, 
altera  dorsi  postica  fasciaque  marginis  postici  flavidis;  post, 
saturate  fuscis. 

On  the  Bealey  River,  New  Zealand,  in  January  ;  one  specimen. 

163.  Trach.  r)ielanoptila,  n.  sp. 

Minor,  alis  ant.  griseis,  punctis  disci  duobus  anticis,  linea  postica 
transversa  recta,  altera  marginem  posticum  versus  curva  nigris  ; 
post,  griseis. 

$  ?.  14-18.  mm.  Head  and  thorax  light  fuscous-grey,  mixed 
with  grey-whitish.  Palpi  grey,  second  joint  sometimes  more 
whitish,  with  a  dark  fuscous  subapical  ring.  Antennae  fuscous. 
Abdomen  light  ochreous-grey.  Anterior  and  middle  legs  dark 
fuscous,  apex  of  joints  very  obscurely  whitish  ;  posterior  legs  grey- 
writish.     Forewings  elongate,    rather  narrow,    costa  moderately 


BY    E.    MEYRICK,    B.A.  371 

arched,  apex  round-pointed,  hind  margin  almost  straight,  ex- 
tremely oblique  ;  light  fuscous-grey,  with  scattered  grey-whitish 
scales,  and  sometimes  a  few  black  scales  ;  a  raised  blackish  tuft  in 
disc  before  middle,  and  a  second  obliquely  beyond  it  on  fold, 
sometimes  connected  with  margins  by  a  few  raised  black  scales  ;" 
an  irregular  line  of  raised  black  scales  from  ?  of  costa  to  anal  angle, 
more  strongly  marked  in  disc  ;  a  few  black  scales  forming  a  carved 
transverse  line  towards  hindmargin  :  cilia  ochreous-whitish, 
suffused  with  light  fuscous-grey.  Hindwings  fuscous-grey ;  cilia 
ochreous-whitish,  suffused  with  light  fuscous-grey. 

Not  closely  approaching  any  other,  but  with  marked  general 
affinity,  and  quite  typical. 

Sydney,  in  November  and  December;  five  specimens  from 
Kunzea  capitata. 

32*.  Mesolecta  n    g. 

Head  loosely  haired,  sidetufts  moderate,  spreading.  Antennae 
in  $  moderate,  moderately  and  evenly  ciliated  (1),  basal  joint 
moderate,  with  strong  pecten.  Palpi  moderate,  second  joint 
reaching  base  of  antennae,  with  appressed  scales,  rather  loose 
beneath,  terminal  joint  shorter  than  second,  moderat-e,  curved. 
Thorax  with  an  erect  crest.  Forewings  elongate,  apex  rounded, 
hindmargin  obliquely  rounded.  Hindwings  slightly  narrower  than 
forewings,  elongate-ovate,  hindmargin  rounded,  cilia  5.  Abdomen 
moderate.  Posterior  tibiae  clothed  with  long  hairs  above.  Fore- 
wings with  vein  7  to  hindmargin,  2  from  somewhat  before  angle  of 
cell.     Hindwings  normal. 

The  single  species  of  this  genus  has  only  recently  come  into  my 
hands ;  the  genus  is  therefore  not  included  in  the  analytical 
table,  but  will  fall  under  the  saine  head  with  Epipyrga,  from  which 
it  may  be  immediately  distinguished  by  the  antennal  pecten..  It 
is  very  closely  allied  to  Nephogenes,  from  which  it  differs  only  by 

the  crested  thorax. 

164.  Mes.  2)sacasta,  n.  sp. 
Media,  alis  ant.  griseis,  albido-sparsis,  macula  costae  ad   basim 
parva,  altera  antica,  triangulo  postico   depresso,  maculaque  dnguli 
analis  parva  saturate  griseis,    punctis   disci  quinque  nigris ;  post, 
griseis. 


372  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

<?  ?.  17.20  mm.  Head  oclireous-wliitish,  crown  slightly  greyish- 
tinged.  Palpi  ochreous- white,  second  joint  externally  fuscous- 
grey  exceiDt  at  apex.  Antennae  grey.  Thorax  light  grey,  with  a 
small  blackish  spot  on  shoulder.  Abdomen  ochreous- whitish. 
Anterior  legs  dark  fuscous ;  middle  legs  grey  ;  posterior  legs 
ochreous  whitish.  Forewings  elongate,  moderate,  costa  moder- 
ately arched,  apex  rounded,  hindmargin  obliquely  rounded  ;  light 
grey,  densely  irrorated  with  whitish  ;  a  small  transverse  blackish- 
grey  spot  on  base  of  costa,  reaching  fold  ;  a  small  blackish-grey 
spot  on  costa  at  3  ;  a  very  flattened  triangular  blackish-grey  patch 
on  costa  from  before  middle  to  f ,  reaching  \  across  wing ',  a 
blackish  dot  in  disc  at  J,  a  second  directly  beneath  it  on  fold,  a 
third  above  middle  of  disc,  a  fourth  and  fifth  transversely  placed 
and  confluent  in  disc  beyond  middle,  and  a  sixth  rather  below  and 
before  these  :  between  the  first  two  and  towards  inner  margin  are 
some  scattered  blackish  scales  ;  a  small  blackish-grey  spot  above 
anal  angle ;  a  small  blackish-grey  spot  on  costa  before  apex, 
emitting  an  outwards-curved  interrupted  line  to  anal  angle  :  cilia 
whitish,  posteriorly  slightly  suff'used  with  greyish,  with  a  blackish- 
grey  median  line.  Hind  wings  grey  ;  cilia  grey- whitish,  with  a 
grey  line. 

Has  a  strong  general  resemblance   to  the  species  of  Nephogenes. 

Port  Lincoln,  South  Australia,  in  November  ;  tolerably  common, 
but  at  that  season  most  of  the  specimens  worn  ;  probably  October 
is  its  usual  month. 

33.  Nephogenes  Meyr. 

Head  loosely  haired,  sidetufts  moderate,  spreading,  loosely 
projecting  between  antennae.  Antennae  in  $  moderate,  moderately 
and  evenly  ciliated  (1-1^),  basal  joint  with  strong  pecten.  Palpi 
moderate,  second  joint  not  reaching  base  of  antennae,  densely 
scaled,  rather  loosely  beneath,  terminal  joint  shorter  than  second, 
curved.  Thorax  smooth.  Forewings  elongate,  moderate  or  rather 
narrow,  apex  more  or  less  rounded,  hindmargin  oblique.  Hind- 
wings  hardly  narrower  than  forewings,  elongate-ovate,  hindmargin 


BY    E.    MEYRICK,    B.A.  373 

rounded,  cilia  ^  to  5.  Abdomen  moderate.  Posterior  tibiae 
clothed  with  long  fine  hairs.  Forewings  with  vein  7  to  hind- 
margin,  2  from  angle  of  cell.     Hind  wings  normal. 

Closely  allied  to  Philohota,  from  which  it  differs  by  the  second 
joint  of  palpi  not  reaching  base  of  antennee.  From  Eulechria,  with 
some  species  of  which  there  is  a  strong  superficial  resemblance,  it 
is  separated  by  the  hindmarginal  termination  of  vein  7  of  the 
forewings.  It  approaches  Coesyra  very  closely  in  structure  ;  the 
loose  hairs  of  the  head,  and  anteriorly  projecting  sidetufts  seem  to 
form  the  best  distinction,  but  it  must  be  admitted  that  the  point  is 
an  unsatisfactory  one.  I  consider  the  genus  to  be  a  development 
from  Eulechria  (the  termination  of  vein  7  is  only  just  below  the 
apex),  and  to  be  itself  the  origin  of  the  two  large  and  collateral 
genera  Philohota  and  Coesyra ;  it  is  therefore  an  important  link. 
The  species  are  Yery  dull-coloured  and  extremely  similar  in  general 
appearance,  but  usually  very  constant,  and  common  where  they 
occur. 

la.  Hindwings  whitish-ochreous. 

2a.  Apex  of  hindwings  dark  fuscous 170.  ^r(?tor^Ar<x. 

2b.       „  ,,  hardly  darker 171.  philopsamma. 

lb.       „     dark  fuscous  ;  species  small. 

2a.   Forewings  with  six  discal  dots 172.  cEthalea. 

2b.  ,,  three       „ 173.  microschema. 

Ic.  „     grey. 

2a.  Forewings  very  elongate  and  narrow 174.  apora. 

2b.  ,,     not  narrow. 

3  a.  With  a  dark  costal  triangle. 

4a.  Edge   of  basal  patch  or    fascia  outwardly 
oblique. 

5a.  With  a  basal  patch   168.  orescoa. 

5b.       „         fascia  nearbase   169.  foedatella. 

4  b.       ,,  „         „     inwardly  oblique. 

5a.  Head  clear  whitish-ochreous 167.  mathematica. 

5b.        „     light  greyish 166.   ennephela. 

3b.   Without  costal  triangle 165.  egelida. 


374  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

165.  Neph.  egelida^  n.  sp. 

Media,  alls  ant.  griseis,  leviter  nigro-sparsis,  punctis  disci 
quinque  lineaque  postica  transverse  angulata  perobscuris  nigris  '} 
post,  albido-griseis. 

S,  18-20  mm.  Head  and  thorax  light  grey.  Palpi  dark 
fuscous,  base  of  terminal  joint,  and  base  and  apex  of  second  joint 
whitish.  Antennae  grey-whitish.  Abdomen  ochreous- whitish. 
Anterior  and  middle  legs  dark-fuscous,  apex  of  joints  whitish  ; 
posterior  legs  ochreous-whitish.  Forewings  elongate,  costa  moder- 
ately arched,  apex  round-pointed,  hindmargin  very  obliquely 
rounded  ;  light  uniform  grey,  with  a  few  scattered  fine  black  scales  ; 
a  very  obscure  blackish  dot  in  disc  before  middle,  a  second  on  fold 
somewhat  beyond  first,  a  third  above  middle,  a  fourth  and  fifth 
transversely  placed  beyond  middle  ;  a  faint  interrupted  blackish- 
grey  transverse  line  from  costa  at  \  obliquely  outwards  to  before 
apex,  thence  sharply  angulated  and  continued  to  anal  angle  :  cilia 
pale  whitish-grey.     Hind  wings  whitish-grey  j  cilia  whitish. 

A  distinct  species,  easily  known  by  its  light  uniform  grey 
colouring,  the  obsolescence  of  the  markings,  and  the  peculiar  form 
of  the  posterior  line. 

Sydney,  in  August ;  one  of  the  earliest  spring  insects ;  three 
specimens. 

166.  Neph.  ennephela,  n.  sp. 

Major,  alls  ant.  griseis,  albido-mixtis,  nigro-sparsis,  mucula  ad 
basim  superius  dilatata,  costseque  triangulo  medio  fuscis,  punctis 
disci  sex  lineaque  postica  transversa  flexuosa  nigrescentibus  ;  post, 
albido-griseis  ;  capite  griseo. 

^.  21-27  mm.  Head  whitish  mixed  with  fuscous.  Palpi 
whitish  mixed  with  dark  fuscous,  second  joint  externally  dark 
fuscous  except  at  apex.  Antennae  light  grey.  Thorax  fuscous- 
grey  mixed  with  whitish,  with  a  small  suffused  dark  fuscous  spot 
on  shoulder.  Abdomen  grey-whitish,  anal  tuft  ochreous-whitish. 
Anterior  and  middle  legs  dark  fuscous,  apex  of  joints  whitish  ; 
posterior  legs  dull-ochreous  whitish.  Forewings  elongate,  poste- 
riorly somewhat  dilated,  costa  moderately  arched,  apex   rounded, 


BY    E.   MEYRICK,  B.A.  375 

hindmargin  very  obliquely  rounded  ;  light  fuscous-grey,  irregularly 
mixed  with  whitish,  and  with  scattered  blackish  scales  ;  a  fuscous 
basal  patch,  its  outer  edge  inwardly  oblique,  from  I  of  costa 
to  I  of  inner  margin  ;  a  triangular  fuscous  patch  on  costa  somewhat 
before  middle,  reaching  J  across  wing  ;  a  blackish  dot  in  disc  at  J, 
a  second  on  fold  slightly  beyond  first,  a  third  on  apex  of  costal 
triangle,  and  three  others  transversely  placed  and  generally 
united  into  a  crescentic  mark  in  disc  beyond  middle  ;  an  irregular 
interrupted  blackish-grey  transverse  line  from  f  of  costa  to  before 
anal  angle,  indented  inwards  beneath  costa,  angulated  in  disc,  and 
somewhat  bent  above  anal  angle  ;  a  row  of  dark  fuscous  dots  on 
hindmargin  :  cilia  whitish,  with  two  interrupted  fuscous-grey  lines. 
Hindwings  pale  grey  or  whitish-grey,  rather  darker  posterioj'ly  ; 
cilia  whitish-grey,   with  a  darker  line. 

The  largest  species  of  the  genus,  and  the  only  one  in  which  the 
forewings  are  at  all  dilated  ;  differs  from  all  but  the  next  species  in 
the  form  of  the  basal  patch,  which  is  broadest  above;  from 
2^.  mathematica  it  is  separated  by  the  much  cloudier  appearance 
and  lighter  markings,  and  by  the  greyish  head. 

Blackheath  (3,500  feet),  New  South  Wales,  in  October; 
common. 

167.   Neph.  mathematical  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  griseis,  cano-mixtis,  nigro-sparsis,  macula  ad 
basim  superius  dilatata,  costse  triangulo  medio,  punctis  disci 
quinque  lineaque  postica  transversa  flexuosa  nigris  ;  post,  albido- 
griseis ;  capite  albido-ochreo. 

$.  16-20  mm.  Head  clear  whitish-ochreous.  Palpi  white, 
slightly  mixed  with  fuscous,  second  joint  externally  dark  fuscous 
except  at  apex.  Antennae  pale  grey.  Thorax  white,  somewhat 
mixed  with  grey,  with  a  suffused  dark  fuscous  spot  on  shoulder. 
Abdomen  whitish-ochreous.  Anterior  and  middle  legs  dark 
fuscous,  apex  of  joints  obscurely  whitish  ;  posterior  legs  ochreous- 
whitish.  Forewings  elongate,  moderate,  costa  moderately  arched, 
apex  rounded,  hindmargin  very  obliquely  rounded;  light  fuscous- 
grey,  mixed  with  whitish,  and  partially  suffused  with  white  round 


376  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

dark  markings,  irregularly  irrorated  with  blackish,  especially  to- 
wards disc ;  a  narrow  inwardly  oblique  slightly  outwards-curved 
blackish  fascia  from  costa  at  ^  to  inner  margin  at  5.  before  which 
the  basal  space  is  suffused  with  dark  grey  ;  a  blackish  triangular 
spot  on  costa  somewhat  before  middle,  sharply  defined  anteriorly, 
nearly  reaching  middle  of  wing ;  a  black  dot  in  disc  at  ^,  a  second 
obliquely  rather  beyond  it  on  fold,  and  three  others  transversely 
placed  and  usually  united  into  a  crescentic  mark  in  disc  beyond 
middle  ;  a  somewhat  interrupted  blackish-grey  transverse  line  from 
costa  at  J  to  before  anal  angle,  sinuate  beneath  costa,  angulated 
outwards  in  disc,  and  again  sinuate  above  inner  margin  ;  a  row  of 
dark  fuscous  dots  in  hindmargin :  cilia  whitish,  with  two  grey 
interrupted  lines.  Hindwings  grey-whitish,  posterior  half  suffused 
with  grey  ;  cilia  whitish,  greyer  round  apex,  with  a  suffused  grey 
line. 

Very  closely  allied  to  the  preceding,  but  smaller,  with  the  head 
clear  whitish-ochreous,  the  markings  of  the  forewings  blackish  and 
sharply  defined  by  the  adjacent  white  suffusion  ;  the  forewings  do 
not  appear  at  all  dilated. 

Sydney,  in  September;  found  rather  commonly  on  a  fence 
during  a  high  wind. 

168.   Neph.  orescoa,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alls  ant.  griseis,  albido-irroratis,  macula  ad  basim 
obliqua,  triangulo  costae  medio,  punctis  disci  quinque,  lineaque 
postica  flexuosa  nigris ;  post,  dilute  griseis,  apice  saturation. 

3  ?.  16 J- 19  mm.  Head  whitish  mixed  with  grey.  Palpi 
whitish,  terminal  joint  towards  apex,  and  second  joint  externally 
except  at  apex  dark  fuscous.  Antennae  grey-whitish.  Thorax 
whitish,  mixed  with  grey,  with  a  dark  fuscous  sjDot  on  shoulder. 
Abdomen  ochreous-whitish.  Anterior  and  middle  legs  dark 
fuscous,  central  ring  of  middle  tibiae  and  apex  of  joints  obscurely 
ochreous-whitish ;  posterior  legs  ochreous-whitish.  Forewings 
elongate,  costa  gently  arched,  apex  rounded,  hindmargin  very 
obliquely  rounded ;  fuscous-grey,  very  finely  irrorated  with 
whitish  ;  a  narrow  blackish  basal  patch  ;  its  outer  edge  outwardly 
oblique,  from  ]  of  costa  to  5  of  inner  margin  ;  a  suffused  triangular 


BY    E.   MEYRICK,  B,A.  377 

blackish  patch  bn  middle  of  costa,  reaching  J  across  wing  :  a  black 
dot  in  disc  at  J,  a  second  slightly  beyond  it  on  fold,  a  third  and 
fourth  transversely  placed  and  sometimes  confluent  in  disc  beyond 
middle,  and  a  fifth  before  and  slightly  below  fourth  ;  a  small 
blackish  spot  on  costa  at  f,  emitting  an  outwards-curved  obscure 
dark  grey  line  to  before  anal  angle  ;  a  row  of  dark  fuscous  dots  on 
hindmargin  ;  cilia  grey,  extreme  tips  white.  Hindwings  whitish- 
grey,  apex  rather  dark  grey ;  cilia  whitish-grey,  darker  round 
apex. 

Easily  distinguished  from  the  two  preceding  species  by  the 
different  form  of  the  basal  patch  ;  it  is  also  a  smaller  and  neater 
insect ;  smaller  than  N.  foedatella,  with  the  wings  more  elongate, 
the  basal  patch  entire,  and  without  the  additional  anterior  discal 
dot. 

Sydney,  Mount  Keira  near  Wollongong,  and  Blackheath 
(3,500  feet),  New  South  Wales,  in  September  and  Cctober; 
common. 

The  ?  in  this  and  other  species  of  the  genus  is  commonly  much 
more  obscure  than  the  S ,  and  usually  best  distinguished  by  the 

form  of  wing. 

169.  NejyJi.  foedatella,  ^sl^. 

{Gryptolechia  foedatella,  Walk.,  Brit.  Mus.  Cat.,  763.) 
Media,  alis  ant.   griseis,    $    cano-suffusis,   fascia    prope    basim 
angusta  obliqua,  cost?e  triangulo  medio  lineaque  postica  transversa 
flexuosa  saturate  fuscis,  punctis  disci  septem  nigris ;    post,  griseis, 
basim  versus  dilutioribus. 

cT  ?.  20-24  mm.  Head  ochreous-whitish  or  whitish-grey.  Palpi 
white,  more  or  less  suffused  with  dark  fuscous,  except  base  and 
apex  of  second  joint.  Antennae  whitish,  annulated  with  fuscous. 
Thorax  white  mixed  with  grey,  anterior  margin  fuscous-grey. 
Abdomen  whitish-ochreous,  sometimes  greyish-tinged.  Anterior 
and  middle  legs  dark  fuscous,  apex  of  joints  whitish ;  posterior 
legs  ochreous-whitish.  Forewings  elongate,  moderate,  costae 
moderately  arched,  apex  rounded,  hindmargin  nearly  straight, 
oblique;  light  fuscous-grey,  in  $  more  or  less  strongly  suff'used 
with  white:    a  dark    fuscous    oblique    slightly    outwards- curved 


378  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

narrow  fascia  near  base,  from  ^  of  costa  to  5  of  inner  margin,  some- 
times obsolete  beneath  fold ;  a  dark  fuscous  triangular  spot  on 
costa  towards  middle,  anteriorly  suffused,  reaching  ^  across  wing  ; 
a  blackish  (sometimes  double)  dot  in  disc  before  middle,  a  second 
rather  beyond  it  on  fold,  a  third,  elongate,  above  and  beyond 
second,  a  fourth  on  apex  of  costal  triangle,  and  three  others 
transversely  placed  in  disc  beyond  middle,  and  generally  united 
into  a  crescentic  mark  ;  a  small  cloudy  dark  fuscous  spot  on  costa 
at  f ,  emitting  an  outwards-curved  fuscous-grey  line  to  before  anal 
angle,  its  extremities  often  joined  by  an  inwards-curved  fuscous 
shade ;  sometimes  a  row  of  fuscous  hindmarginal  dots  :  cilia 
ochreous-whitish,  with  an  interrupted  fuscous-grey  line.  Hind- 
wings  fuscous-grey,  towards  base  rather  paler  and  slightly  ochreous- 
tinged  ;  cilia  ochreous-whitish,  with  a  faint  grey  basai  line. 

Rather  variable,  but  specially  characterised  by  the  outwardly 
oblique  dark  fascia  near  base,  and  the  additional  discal  dot  beyond 
and  between  the  first  two.  In  form  of  wing  the  species  recalls 
Eulechria  adoxella. 

Brisbane,  Kosewood,  and  Toowoomba,  Queensland, in  September; 
round  Sydney  in  November  and  January ;  tolerably  common. 
The  northern  specimens  are  the  most  distinctly  marked. 

170.   Neph.  2)Totorthra,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  saturate  fuscis,  albido-irroratis,  macula  ad  basim 
obliqna,  costse  triangulo  medio,  lineaque  j^ostica  flexuosa  saturati- 
oribus,  punctis  disci  sex  nigris ;  post,  albido-ochreis,  apice  saturate 
fusco-suffuso. 

(?  $.  16-21  mm.  Head,  palpi,  and  thorax  dark  fuscous,  some- 
what mixed  with  whitish-ochreous.  Antennae  dark  fuscous. 
Abdomen  whitish-ochreous  suffused  with  dark  fuscous.  Legs  dark 
fuscous,  central  ring  of  middle  tibiae  and  apex  of  all  joints  ochreous- 
whitish,  posterior  tibiae  whitish-ochreous.  Forewings  elongate, 
moderate,  costa  gently  arched,  apex  rounded,  hindmargin  nearly 
straight,  oblique  ;  dark  fuscous,  irrorated  with  white  or  ochreous- 
whitish,  except  towards  hindmargin  ;  a  blackish-fuscous  basal 
patch,  its  outer  edge  oblique,  from  ]  of  costa  to  \  of  inner  margin ; 


BY   E.  MEYRICK,  B.A.  379 

a  triangular  blackish  fuscous  patch  towards  middle  of  costa, 
anteriorly  suffused,  reaching  J  across  wing  ;  a  black  dot  in  disc 
before  middle,  a  second  slightly  beyond  it  on  fold,  a  third  on  apex 
of  costal  triangle,  and  three  others  transversely  placed  and  generally 
united  into  a  crescentic  mark  in  disc  beyond  middle  ;  an  obscure 
darker  transverse  outwards-curved  line,  from  a  small  spot  on  costa 
at  f  to  before  anal  angle  :  cilia  whitish-ochreous  suffused  with 
grey,  with  a  dark  grey  interrupted  line.  Hind  wings  dull  whitish- 
ochreous,  slightly-fuscous  tinged,  apex  and  hindmarginal  edge 
suffused  with  dark  fuscous  ;  cilia  fuscous  grey,  tips  paler. 

Conspicuously  distinguished  by  the  peculiar  hind  wings,  which 
are  alike  in  both  sexes ;  these  pale  hindwings  are  specially 
characteristic  of  the  Tasmanian  mountain  fauna. 

Mount  Wellington,  Tasmania,  from  1000  to  1500  feet;  common, 
early  in  December. 

171.   Neph.  philopsamma^  n.  sp. 

Minor,  alis  ant.  dilute  fuscis,  cano-mixtis,  basi,  costse  dimidio 
antico,  macula  postica  lineaque  transversa  flexuosa  saturatioribus, 
punctis  disci  tribus  nigris ;  post,  albido-ochreis. 

^$.  15  mm.  Head  whitish-yellow.  Palpi  dark  fuscous, 
terminal  joint  and  apex  of  second  whitish.  Aiitemise  dark 
fuscous.  Thorax  whitish,  anteriorly  mixed  with  dark  fuscous. 
Abdomen  whitish-ochreous.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  central  ring  of 
middle  tibigi^,  apex  of  all  joints,  and  hairs  of  posterior  tibisB 
whitish-ochreous.  Forewings  elongate,  costa  moderately  arched, 
apex  rounded,  hindmargin  obliquely  rounded ;  ochreous-grey, 
mixed  with  white ;  base,  a  costal  streak  from  base  to  before 
middle,  a  spot  on  costa  beyond  middle,  and  an  inwardly  oblique 
spot  at  5  suffusedly  darker ;  a  black  dot  on  fold  at  3,  and  two 
others  transversely  placed  in  disc  beyond  middle ;  an  outwardly- 
curved  line  of  blackish  scales  from  posterior  costal  spot  to  before 
anal  angle  :  cilia  white,  beneath  anal  angle  ochreous-tinged,  with 
an  interrupted  fuscous-line.  Hindwings  whitish-ochreous,  slightly 
fuscous-tinged;  cilia  whitish-ochreous,  with  a  fuscous  line  near 
base 

Al 


380  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

An  inconspicuous  but  easily  recognised  species. 
Wallaroo,  South  Australia,  on  coast  sandhills  at  the  beginning 
of  November  ;  two  specimens. 

172.  Neph.  mthalea,  n.  sp. 

Minor,  alls  ant.  saturate  fuscis,  disco  cano-suffuso,  punctis  disci 
sex  lineaque  postica  transversa  flexuosa  nigrescentibus ;  post, 
saturate  fuscis. 

$ .  12|-15  mm.  Head,  palpi,  antennae,  thorax,  abdomen,  and  legs 
dark  fuscous,  slightly  mixed  with  whitish ;  hairs  of  posterior 
tibiae  whitish-ochreous.  Forewings  elongate,  costa  slightly  arched, 
apex  rounded,  hindmargin  nearly  straight,  oblique  ;  dark  fuscous  ; 
disc  more  or  less  strongly  suffused  with  white,  obliquely  extended 
to  costa  at  §  ;  sometimes  some  white  scales  towards  hindmargin ; 
a  black  dot  in  disc  before  middle,  a  second  hardly  beyond  it 
on  fold,  a  third  above  middle,  a  fourth  above  and  beyond  second, 
and  two  or  three  others  transversely  placed  and  confluent  beyond 
middle  ;  an  indistinct  darker  outwards-curved  line  from  f  of  costa 
to  anal  angle  ;  cilia  grey,  with  an  interrupted  dark  fuscous  line. 
Hindwings  dark  fuscous  ;  cilia  fuscous-grey. 

Differing  from  all  but  N.  microschema  by  the  dark  fuscous 
hindwings  and  smaller  size ;  from  iV.  microschema  it  is  easily 
distinguished  by  the  discal  dots,  which  are  arranged  as  in 
N.  fmdatella.  It  has  considerable  superficial  resemblance  with  the 
larger  Eulechria  tanyscia. 

Mount  Lofty  range  and  Mount  Gambler,  South  Australia,  in 
October  and  November ;  four  specimens. 

173.  Neph.  microschema,  n.  sp. 

Minor,  alis  ant.  saturate  fuscis,  partim  albido-sparsis,  punctis 
disci  tribus  lineaque  postica  transversa  flexuosa  nigrescentibus  ; 
post,  saturatius  fuscis. 

$ .  l.lJ-14  mm.  Head,  palpi,  antennae,  thorax,  abdomen,  and 
legs  dark  fuscous  ;  palpi  internally  ochreous-whitish.  Forewings 
elongate,  costa  gently  arched,  apex  round-pointed,  hindmargin 
very  oblique,  hardly  rounded ;  dull  fuscous,   irrorated  with  dark 


BY    E.  MEYRICK,  B.A.  381 

fuscous  and  ochreous-whitish  ;  base  and  costa  suffusedly  darker  ; 
an  obscure  blackish  dot  in  disc  before  middle,  a  second  directly 
beneath  it  on  fold,  and  a  third  in  disc  beyond  middle  ;  an  obscure 
darker  spot  above  anal  angle ;  an  obscurely  indicated  darker 
transverse  outwards-curved  line  very  near  hindmargin  indented, 
inwards  beneath  costa  :  cilia  grey,  with  a  darker  basal  line,  tips 
whitish.  Hindwings  rather  dark  fuscous ;  cilia  grey,  with  a 
darker  line. 

Very  obscure-looking,  but  perfectly  distinct ;  the  smallest  of  the 
genus. 

Mount  Wellington,  Tasmania,  1000-1200  feet,  at  the  beginning 
of  December  ;  rather  common. 

174.  Nei^h.  ai^ora,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  angustis,  griseis,  albido-mixtis,  costae  triangulo 
depresso  medio  saturation,  puncto  ad  basim,  aliis  disci  septem, 
lineaque  postica  transversa  tiexuosa  nigrescentibus  ;   post,  griseis. 

$.  17-22  mm.  Head,  palpi,  and  thorax  white,  irregularly 
mixed  with  fuscous.  Antennae  grey-whitish.  Abdomen  elongate, 
ochreous-whitish.  Anterior  and  middle  legs  dark  fuscous  mixed 
with  whitish ;  posterior  legs  whitish.  Forewings  elongate, 
narrow,  costa  slightly  arched,  apex  round-pointed,  hindmargin 
extremely  obliquely  rounded  ;  white,  fine  and  irregularly  irrorated 
with  fuscous ;  a  small  blackish  spot  very  near  base  beneath  costa ; 
a  very  indistinct  grey  flattened-triangular  blotch  on  costa  towards 
middle,  a  black  dot  in  disc  at  J,  a  second,  rather  elongate,  on  fold 
beyond  first,  a  third  above  middle,  a  fourth  and  fifth  transversely 
placed  beyond  middle,  a  sixth  below  and  before  fifth,  and  a  seventh 
before  sixth ;  a  strongly  outwards-curved  blackish-grey  line  from 
costa  at  5  to  before  anal  angle,  sharply  indented  beneath  costa ; 
cilia  whitish,  with  a  blackish-grey  median  line,  and  a  faint  grey 
line  before  tips.  Hindwings  grey,  darker  posteriorly  ;  cilia  grey- 
whitish,  with  a  gTey  line. 

Distinguished  from  all  by  the  peculiarly  elongate  and  narrow 
forewings,  with  extremely  oblique  hindmargin. 

Coomooboolaroo,  near  Duaringa,  Queensland  ;  several  specimens 
sent  by  Mr.  G.  Barnard. 


382  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

34.  Antidica,  Meyr. 

Head  loosely  haired,  sidetufts  small,  spreading.  Antennae  in  cT 
rather  thick,  somewhat  serrate,  biciliated  with  rather  long  tufts  of 
hairs  (2) ;  basal  joint  stout,  with  moderate  pecten.  Palpi  rather 
long,  second  joint  exceeding  base  of  antennae,  densely  scaled, 
somewhat  loosely  beneath,  terminal  joint  shorter  than  second, 
moderate,  recurved.  Thorax  smooth.  Forewings  elongate,  apex 
obtusely  pointed,  hindmargin  very  oblique.  Hind  wings  almost  as 
broad  as  forewings,  elongate-ovate,  hindmargin  slightly  rounded? 
cilia  |.  Abdomen  elongate,  broad,  somewhat  flattened.  Posterior 
tibise  clothed  with  long  fine  hairs.  Forewings  with  vein  7  to 
hindmargin,  2  from  angle  of  cell.     Hindwings  normal. 

Closely  allied  to  Philohota,  of  which  it  is  perhaps  an  earlier 
form,  differing  in  the  increased  development  of  the  antennal  cili- 
ations,  and  the  peculiar  stout  and  elongate  abdomen. 

la.  Forewings  ochreous -white 175.  eriomorpha. 

lb.  „  ochreous-grey \1Q.  bar y soma. 

175.   Ant  eriomori^ha,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  ochreo-albis,  vitta  angusta  supra  medium, 
nterdum  etiam  dorso  fuscis ;  post,  saturate  fuscis. 

cT.  17-21  mm.  Head  and  thorax  white,  suffused  with  fuscous 
except  on  sides.  Palpi  white,  more  or  less  wholly  suffused  with 
dark  fuscous.  Antennae  whitish.  Abdomen  ochreous- whitish. 
Legs  dark  fuscous,  hairs  of  posterior  tibige  ochreous-whitish 
Forewings  elongate,  rather  narrow,  costa  gently  arched,  apex 
pointed,  hindmargin  extremely  obliquely  roanded ;  ochreous- 
white  ;  costal  edge  slenderly  blackish  towards  base  ;  a  straight 
narrow  longitudinal  fuscous  streak  from  base  above  middle  to 
apex  of  costa,  posteriorly  somewhat  paler  and  tending  to  be 
trifurcate  at  extremity  ;  inner  margin  sometimes  narrowly  fuscous  : 
cilia  ochreous- white.  Hindwings  dark-fuscous ;  cilia  whitish, 
towards  base  suffused  with  fuscous-grey. 

In  markings  recalling  typical  species  of  Philohota. 

Round  Melbourne  and  at  Mount  Macedon,  Victoria,  in 
November ;    rather    common. 


BY    E.   MEYRICK,   B.A.  383 

176.  Ant.  bari/soma,  n.  sp. 

Minor,  alis  ant.  griseis,  oclireo  albicloque  mixtis,  punctis  disci 
plerisque  circulatim  dispositis  ssepius  obsoletis  nigris  ;  post. 
saturate  fuscis. 

$.  15-16  mm.  Head,  palpi,  antennae,  thorax,  abdomen  and 
legs  greyish-fuscous ;  hairs  of  posterior  tibiee  paler.  Forewings 
elongate,  posteriorly  somewhat  contracted,  costa  gently  arched, 
apex  round-pointed,  hindmargin  very  obliquely  rounded  ;  fuscous- 
grey,  mixed  with  ochreous  and  grey- whitish  scales  ;  six  or  seven 
small  black  dots  arranged  in  an  irregular  oval  in  disc,  often 
partially  obsolete  :  cilia  whitish-ochreous.  Hindwings  dark  fuscous ; 
cilia  whitish-ochreous,  with  a  dark  fuscous  line  near  base. 

The  unusual  form  of  the  forevv^ings  gives  this  species  a  rather 
singular  facies. 

Common  at  Deloraine,  Tasmania,  in  November,  amongst  rushes 
(Jicncus)  in  swampy  places,  flying  rather  actively  and  apparently 
naturally  by  day  ;  also  taken  by  Mr.  G.  H.  Raynor,  near  Mel- 
bourne. / 


Some  remarks  on  the  action  of  Tannin  on  Infusoria. 
By  Harry  Gilliatt,  Esq. 

In  the  April  number  of  the  "  Royal  Microscopical  Society's 
Journal,"  appeared  a  paper  by  Mr.  Waddington*  on  the  action  of 
Tannin  on  the  Cilia  of  the  Infusoria,  which  must  have  aroused 
considerable  interest  in  the  minds  of  those  Microscopists  who  pay 
special  attention  to  this  group. 

Mr.  Waddington  says  : — 

"  In  trying  the  effect  of  various  Chemicals  on  Infusoria — princi- 
pally Paramcecium  Aurelia,  I  was  led  to  use  a  solution  of  tannin, 
or  tannic  acid  ;  and  I  was  surprised  to  find  that  the  immediate 
action  of  this  chemical  was  to  render  the  cilia  visible  without  any 
manipulation  of  the  light. 

*  "The  action  of  Tannin  on  the  Cilia  of  Infusoria,  with  remarks  on  the  use 
of  solution  of  Sulphurous  Oxide  in  tVlcohol"  ;  by  Henry  J.  Waddington.  read 
14th  March  1883.   "  Journal  Royal  Microscopical  Society,"  April,  1883. 


384  ON    THE   ACTION    OF    TANNIN    ON    INFUSORIA, 

"  It  may  have  been  noticed,  that  when  these  Infusoria  have  been 
killed  by  ordinary  means,  such  as  heating  the  water  in  which  they 
are  contained,  the  cilia  are  very  difficult  to  observe,  probably 
owing  to  their  great  transparency,  so  that  no  correct  idea,  has,  I 
think,  been  obtained  of  their  size  or  quantity. 

"  On  placing  however,  a  drop  of  water  containing  Faramcecia  on 
a  slip  side  by  side  with  a  minute  quantity  of  a  solution  of  tannin 
and  making  a  junction  of  the  two,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  instant 
the  Faramoecia  approach  the  mixed  fluids,  their  motion  is  arrested, 
of  course  in  a  greater  or  less  degree  according  to  the  strength  of 
the  tannin.  They  are  generally  rendered  perfectly  quiescent,  and 
the  cilia  begin  to  appear  and  continue  to  develope  until  the  body 
of  the  animalcule  appears  surrounded  by  them.  The  symmetry  of 
the  cilia  depends  much  upon  the  strength  of  the  solution.    *    *    * 

"To  bring  out  the  best  appearance  of  the  cilia  over  the  whole 
of  the  surface  of  the  Faramoecium  the  parabola  is  required  ;  the 
animal  then  appears  as  if  it  were  supported  on  the  slip  by  its 
cilia. 

"  If  the  tannin  solution  is  strong,  the  Faramoecium  is  almost 
instantly  rendered  motionless,  and  the  cilia  appear  to  be  entirely 
removed,  remaining  in  a  more  or  less  confused  state  at  the 
extremity. 

"  I  have  shown  this  action  to  several  Microscopists,  and  so 
contrary  is  the  remarkable  development  of  the  cilia  to  received 
ideas,  that  on  nearly  every  occasion  I  have  been  met  with  the 
remark  that  they  were  not  cilia  but  fungoid  growths.  This 
however,  is  entirely  disproved  by  the  fact  that  they  are  developed 
as  it  were  instantaneously." 

Mr.  Waddington  believes  that  the  action  of  the  tannic  acid  on 
the  cilia  is  analogous  to  its  action  on  gelatine,  rendering  them 
leathery. 

Struck  with  the  remarkable  appearance  shown  in  Mr.  Wadding- 
ton's  illustrations,  I  made  a  n amber  of  experiments  with  glycerole 
of  tannin  as  described  by  Mr.  Waddington.  On  exposing  F. 
Aurelia  to  the  action  of  the  tannin,  I  found  the  eflfect  quite  as 
startling  as  described  ;  the  animalcules,  as  the  acid  began  to  affect 


BY   HARRY   GILLIATT,  ESQ.  385 

tliem,  darted  about  with  great  rapidity,  endeavouring  to  conceal 
themselves  beneath  any  vegetable  matter  on  the  slip,  their  motions 
gradually  growing  slower  ;  then  they  revolved  slowly  two  or  three 
times.  A  sudden  contraction  of  the  body  followed,  and,  in  a  few 
seconds,  the  appearance  shown  in  Mr.  Waddington's  illustrations. 

The  regularity  of  the  fine  transparent  acicular  fringe  that  now 
surrounded  the  animalcule,  or  whether  it  was  completely  thrown 
off,  appeared  to  depend,  as  described  by  Mr.  Waddington,  on  the 
strength  of  the  solution.  In  those  cases  when  the  appendages 
were  separated  from  the  body  it  was  not  unusual  to  find  a  few  spiral 
shaped,  although  after  careful  comparison  the  majority  were 
rod-like. 

After  examination  of  numerous  specimens  treated  with  the  acid, 
it  seemed  difficult  to  reconcile  cilia  of  such  length — in  some  cases 
exceeding  the  width  of  the  body — with  the  action  apparent  in  the 
ciliary  movements  of  the  living  animalcule.  But  while  observing 
an  example  under  oblique  illumination,  I  was  struck  with  the 
appearance  of  fine  lines  across  it,  and  was  thus  reminded  of  the 
rod-like  bodies  or  trichocysts  so  fully  developed  beneath  the 
cuticle  of  P.  Aurelia.  Referring  to  Saville  Kent's  "  Manual  of 
the  Infusoria,"  his  remarks  upon  these  bodies  introduced  a  new 
feature.     I  will  quote  as  briefly  as  possible  what  Mr.  Kent  says : — 

"These  structures — trichocysts — exist  in  their  most  characteristic 
form,  in  the  very  cosmopolitan  species,  Paramoecium  Aurelia, 
taking  the  form  of  minute  and  exceedingly  slender  rod-like  bodies, 
or  fibrillse  ^'  *  *  distributed  in  an  even  layer  immediately 
beneath  the  cuticle.  *  *  *  Under  certain  conditions, 
including  the  use  of  artificial  stimuli,  such  as  weak  acetic  acid, 
these  trichocysts  become  suddenly  elongated,  and  their  distal  ends 
piercing  the  overlying  cuticle  stand  out  like  fine,  stiff,  hair-like 
setae  beyond  the  cilia,  around  the  entire  circumference  of  the 
animalcule,  frequently  becoming  entirely  separated  from  the  thin 
base  of  attachment."     P.  80. 

Stein  describes  also  the  treatment  of  the  trichocysts  with  acetic 
acid.     "  Infnsionthierchen,"  p.  61. 


386  NOTES    AND    EXHIBITS. 

Mr.  Kent  adds  that  the  names  of  Ehrenberg  and  Oscar  Schmidt, 
are  usually  associated  with  the  earliest  discovery  of  these  special 
structures ;  but  he  has  traced  their  discovery  to  Sir  John  Ellis, 
whose  account  of  them  appears  in  the  "  Philosophical  Transac- 
tions." Yol.  59,  1769. 

Ellis  says  : — "  By  applying  a  small  stalk  of  the  Horseshoe 
Geranium,  G.  Zonale  Linn.,  fresh  broken,  to  a  drop  of  water  in 
which  these  animalcules  are  swimming,  we  shall  find  that  they 
become  torpid,  instantly  contracting  themselves  into  an  oblong 
oval  shape,  with  their  fins  extended  like  so  many  bristles  all  round 
their  bodies."   P.  81. 

Mr.  Kent  further  describes  the  investigations  of  Professor 
Allman  on  Bursar ia  {panophrys)  leucas,  which  appeared  in  the 
*'  Journal  of  Microscopical  Science"  for  the  year  1855,  as  follows  : — 

"  Under  external  irritation,  such  as  the  drying  away  of  the 
surrounding  water,  the  application  of  acefcic  acid,  or  forcible  com- 
pression, they  become  similarly  and  suddenly  transformed  into  fine, 
long,  hair-like,  filaments,  or  setae,  which  projected  from  the  whole 
periphery."     P.  82. 

It  may,  I  think,  be  fairly  concluded,  that  the  efiects  observed  by 
Mr.  Waddington  in  his  experiments,  must  be  attributed  to  the 
action  of  tannic  acid  on  the  trichocysts  of  Paramecium  Aurelia 
and  not,  as  he  considers,  to  its  action  on  the  Cilia. 


NOTES    AND    EXHIBITS. 

Mr.  Haswell  exhibited  a  series  of  anatomical  and  Zoological 
preparations. 

Mr.  Deane  exhibited  a  small  collection  of  rocks,  chiefly  igneous, 
from  the  railway  between  Gunnedah  and  Narrabri. 

Mr.  Pedley  exhibited  a  specimen  of  what  is  called  Copper 
Grass  at  Cobar,  and  is  regarded  as  a  sure  indication  of  that  metal, 
growing  only,  it  is  said,  upon  the  outcrop  of  a  lode.  Mr.  Haviland 
s'Qggested  that  it  might  be  a  species  of  Xerotes. 


NOTKS    AND    EXHIBITS.  387 

Mr.  Macleay  exhibited  a  living  specimen  of  Trachydosaurus 
asper,  brought  by  the  Honorable  P.  G.  King,  M.L.C.,  from  the 
Narran  country. 

With  respect  to  this  Lizard,  Professor  Stephens  read  the  follow- 
ing account  written  by  Dampier,  in  1699  (Voyages,  vol.  iii.  p.  122, 
Ed.  1703) : — ''  A  sort  of  Guanos  are  also  found  at  Shark's  Bay  of 
the  same  shape  and  size  with  other  guanos  (described  vol.  i.,  p.  57). 
but  differing  from  them  in  three  remarkable  particulars.  For 
these  had  a  larger  and  uglier  head,  and  had  no  tail  ;  and  at  the 
rump,  instead  of  the  tail  there,  they  had  a  stump  of  a  tail,  which 
appeared  like  another  head,  but  not  really  such,  being  without 
mouth  or  eyes.  Yet  this  creature  seemed  by  this  means  to  have  a 
head  at  each  end.  And  which  may  be  reckoned  a  fourth  difference 
the  legs  also  seemed,  all  four  of  them,  to  be  fore -legs,  being  all 
alike  in  shape  and  length,  and  seeming  by  the  joints  and  bending 
to  be  made  as  if  they  were  to  go  indifferently  either  head  or  tail 
foremost.  They  were  speckled  black  and  yellow,  like  toads,  and 
had  scales  or  knobs  on  their  backs  like  those  of  crocodiles,  plated 
on  to  the  skin,  or  stuck  into  it  as  part  of  the  skin.  They  are  very 
slow  in  motion,  and  when  a  man  comes  nigh  them  they  will  stand 
still  and  hiss  not  endeavouring  to  get  away.  Their  livers  are  also 
spotted  black  and  yellow,  and  the  body  when  opened  hath  a  very 
unsavoury  smell.  I  did  never  see  such  ugly  creattires  anywhere 
but  here"  (at  Shark's  Bay).  "  The  guanos  I  have  observed  to  be 
very  good  meat,  and  I  have  often  eaten  of  them  with  pleasure.  But 
though  I  have  eaten  of  snakes,  crocodiles  and  alligators  and  many 
creatures  that  look  frightfully  enough,  and  there  are  but  few  that 
I  should  have  been  afraid  to  eat  of  if  pressed  by  hunger,  yet  my 
stomach  would  scarce  have  served  to  venture  upon  these  New 
Holland  guanos,  both  the  looks  and  the  smell  of  them  being  so 
offensive."  The  description  of  the  lizard  is  accurate  and  picturesque, 
and  the  old  buccaneer's  estimate  of  its  flesh  is  much  the  same  as 
that  of  the  Murrumbidgee  aborigines,  who  look  with  extreme  con- 
tempt upon  those  natives  of  the  dry  plains,  who  for  want  of  better 
food  are  obliged  to  "patter  kurraggaly." 


388  NOTES    AND    EXHIBITS. 

Mr.  Macleay  also  exhibited  a  specimen  of  Strophura  spinigera, 
Gray,  a  small  lizard  found  in  the  pine  scrubs  of  the  interior,  and 
reputed  to  be  venomous.  When  irritated  it  ejects  from  pores  in 
the  tail,  an  acrid  fluid,  which,  immediately  on  exposure  to  the  air, 
becomes  viscid. 

Mr.  Brazier,  for  Mr.  J.  F.  Bailey,  of  Victoria,  exhibited  a 
specimen  of  Bulimus  acutics,  Muller,  taken  July  22,  in  a  garden 
at  Collingwood.     This  species  has  been  introduced  from  France. 

Mr.  Fletcher  exhibited  specimens  of  a  parasitic  worm,  Filaria 
macropi  majoris,  or  F.  Websteri  according  to  Cobbold,  which  is 
often  to  be  met  with  inclosed  in  cysts  about  the  distal  end  of  the 
thigh  bone,  sometimes  extending  some  way  down  the  shank  bone. 
Out  of  thirteen  specimens,  three  males  and  one  female  shewed 
these  parasites.  They  are  referred  to  in  Yol.  ii,  page  293  of  Dr. 
Bennett's  Wanderings  in  N.S.W.  So  far  they  do  not  seem  to 
have  been  met  with  in  any  species  of  kangaroo  but  M.  Major. 

Professor  Stephens  exhibited  a  block  of  tertiary  limestone, 
picked  up  at  Belmont,  Lake  Macquarie,  but  in  all  probability 
brought  from  the  Southern  Coast  of  Victoria  or  South  Australia. 
It  was  composed  almost  entirely  of  shells  and  fragments  of  shells, 
some  of  which  were  but  imperfectly  mineralized.  Bryozoa  of  two 
or  three  kinds  were  also  distinguishable. 

Also  a  piece  of  sandstone,  composed  directly  from  the  debris 
of  a  granite  rock,  found  in  the  same  place,  but  evidently  not  in 
its  original  locality. 

Also  a  chert  flake,  resembling  exactly  a  Palaeolithic  imple- 
ment, but  probably  not  a  century  old.  From  Coal  Point,  Lake 
Macquarie. 

Also  some  specimens  of  silicious  sinter,  obtained  by  H.  R. 
Labatt,  Esq.,  from  the  gorge  of  the  Cataract  River,  a  few  miles 
beyond  Appin.  There  was  a  large  quantity  of  this  mineral 
encrusting  the  rocks  at  a  considerable  height  above  the  river  bed. 
It  is  evidently  the  deposit  from  the  waters  of  a  hot  spring  charged 
with  silicious  matter,  and  derived  probably  from  the  great 
mass  of  basalt  which  lies  about  the  head  of  this  river.  There  is 
also,  however,  a  very  long  and  occasionally  wide  dyke  of  the  same 


NOTES    AND    EXHIBITS.  389 

rock  crossing  the  Coal  Cliff  Koacl  and  that  to  Bulli,  at  about  eight 
and  a  half  miles  from  Appin,  and  appearing  at  the  other  side  of 
the  Cataract  River  in  a  large  patch  on  the  Mount  Keira  Road, 
and  this  may  have  been  the  real  origin  of  the  deposit  here 
illustrated.  Most  of  the  specimens  consist  of  pure,  dense,  fibrous, 
hydrated  silica,  but  one  much  more  open  and  cellular  than  the 
rest  contains  also  a  good  deal  of  carbonate  of  lime. 

Also  specimens  of  the  conglomerate  and  pebbles  forming  the 
hills  in  the  Narran  District,  known  as  the  Murillas.  They  are 
rounded  masses  of  no  great  elevation  rising  out  of  the  wide  levels 
between  the  Darling  and  Bokhara  Rivers,  which  are  recognised 
as  tertiary,  and  appear  to  rest  upon  the  Cretaceous  or  Jurassic 
beds  which  form  the  country  on  the  right  bank  of  the  latter  river. 
It  is  evident  that  they  are  wrecks  of  an  older  formation  (possibly 
Daintree's  desert  sandstone),  and  it  seems  probable  that  they 
represent  in  reality  an  upper  member  of  the  Cretaceous  system. 
But  no  information  has  been  obtained  as  to  the  beds  which 
directly  underlie  them.  The  conglomerate  is  composed  of  pebbles 
of  milky  quartz,  imbedded  in  a  mass  of  rounded  pellets  and  grains 
of  rock  crystal,  firmly  compacted  by  a  siliceous  cement  into  a  hard, 
coarse-grained  quartzite.  This,  however,  is  more  soluble  than  the 
materials  which  it  holds  together,  so  that  under  atmospheric  wear 
and  tear  it  is  forced  to  release  them  once  more,  covering  the 
ground  with  sheets  of  white  pebbles,  which  at  a  little  distance 
may  be  mistaken  for  snow.  The  specimens  were  brought  to 
Sydney  by  the  Hon.  P.  G.  King,  M.L.C. 


WEDNESDAY,  AUGUST  29th,  1883. 


The  President,  C.  S.  Wilkinson,  Esq.,  F.G.S.,  Government 
Geologist,  in  the  chair. 


MEMBER   ELECTED. 


Monsieur   F.    Ratte,    Ingenieur    des    Arts    et    Manufactures, 
Officier  d'Academie. 


DONATIONS. 

"  Report  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Public  Library,  Museums,  and 
National  Gallery  of  Victoria,  for  the  year  1882."  From  the 
Public  Library. 

"  Melbourne  University  Calendar,  for  the  Academic  years 
1882-3."     From  the  Senate. 

"  Archives  do  Museu  Nacional  do  Rio  de  Janeiro."  Yolumes 
TV.  and  V.,  for  the  years  1879-80.     From  the  Museum. 

"  Bulletin  de  la  Societe  Linneenne  de  la  Charente-Inferieure." 
Yol.  IL,  No.  17,  1882.     From  the  Society. 

*'  Synopsis  of  the  Queensland  Flora,  containing  both  the 
Phsenogamous  and  Cryptogamous  Plants."  By  F.  M.  Bailey, 
F.L.S.,  1882.     From  the  Author. 

"  Classified  Index  of  the  Indigenous  and  Naturalised  Plants  of 
Queensland,  1883."     By  F.  M.  Bailey,  F.L.S.     From  the  Author. 

"  Descriptions  of  some  new  species  of  Squilla  from  South 
Australia."    By  Prof.  Ralph  Tate,  A.L.S.,  etc.    From  the  Author. 


DONATIONS.  391 

"  Journal  of  Conchology."  Vol.  IV.,  No.  1,  January,  1883. 
From  the  Conchological  Society  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland. 

''The  Coal  resources  of  Queensland."  By  the  Rev.  J.  E. 
Tenison-Woods,  F.G.S.,  etc.     From  the  Author. 

The  following  works  were  presented  to  the  Library  by  Mr. 
John  Brazier,  C.M.Z.S.  :— 

"International  Scientists  Directory,"  compiled  by  Samuel  E. 
Cassino.     Boston,  U.S.A.,  1883. 

"  Handbook  of  New  Zealand,"  compiled  for  the  Sydney  Inter- 
national Exhibition,  1879,  by  Dr.  James  Hector,  F.KS. 

*'  A  Brief  Account  of  the  Natives  of  Western  Australia  to 
illustrate  the  Collection  of  Weapons,  &c.,  sent  to  the  Exhibition  at 
Sydney,  1879," 

Eight  Papers  on  the  Rise  and  Progress  of  the  Queensland 
Industries,  1879. 

Official  Statistics  of  Tasmania,  1879,  with  map. 

"  Molluscorum  Fossilium  species  novae  et  emendatae  in  tellure 
tertiaria,  Dalmatiae,  Croatise,  et  Slavonise  inventae."  Auct.  S. 
Brusina. 

Nine  Papers  from  Mr.  Brazier  on  the  Mollusca  of  Australia 
and  adjacent  localities. 

"  Feuille  des  Jeunes  Naturalistes,"  Paris,  No.  153.  Juillet, 
1883.     From  the  Editor. 

"  Science,"  Vol.  I.,  Nos.  2  to  24  inclusive  :  16th  February  to 
the  20th  July,  1883.     From  the  Editor. 

"Journal  of  the  Royal  Microscopical  Society  of  London." 
June,  1883.     From  the  Society, 

"  Verhandlungen  der  Kaiserlich-Koniglichen  Zoologisch-botan- 
ischen  Gesellschaft  in  Wien."  A  set,  complete  from  1853  to 
1881,  with  the  exception  of  the  volumes  for  1854,  1856,  1860, 
1861,  1862,  1864  and  1865  ;  with  separate  publications  for  the 
missing  years. 


392  ON    A    FOSSIL    CALVARIA, 

papers  read. 
On  a  Fossil    Calvaria. 
By  Charles  W.  De  Yis,  B.A. 
Plate  17. 
A  model  of  the  upper  surface  of  a  brain,  produced  from  tlie 
interior  of  a  fossil  brain-pan,  has  already  been  under  the  inspection 
of   the    Society.       To   obtain   a  just    conception    of   the   animal 
represented   by   it,    it   appears   necessary  that  the    mould   itself 
should  be    brought    into   view.       I   therefore  allow   myself   the 
pleasure  of  submitting  to  consideration  a  cast  of  the  entire  fossil, 
and  of  offering  some  remarks  upon  it  for  the  purpose  of  eliciting 
opinion.       The    portion    of     skull    which   time    has    left  to    us 
consits  of  the  parietal  and  the  upper  part  of  the  occipital  bones. 
On  its  superior   surface    the   sagittal  suture  is  almost  effaced — 
it  is  indicated  merely  by  a  slight  groove  anteriorly.      Posteriorly 
there  is  a  shallow  depression  between  the  particles  immediately 
in   front   of  the   superoccipital  and   from    the    radiated  arrange- 
ment   of  the    cell-walls    standing    out   in    low    relief   from    the 
surface  of  the  bone  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  there  is  here  an 
interparietal  ossified  from  a  single  centre.  The  parietals  are  flattened 
anteriorly  and  gradually  become  verymoderatel}^  convex  posteriorly. 
The  crista  are  far  removed  from   the  sagittal    suture,    and  are 
scarcely    appreciable— mere    linese    temporalis   from    which    the 
temporal  surfaces  slope  at  a  slightly  increased  angle.     The  occipital 
surface  makes  with  that  of  the  parietals  an   open  angle  of  120°. 
The  lambdoidal  suture  is  entirely  effaced,  but  no  superior  occipital 
crest  is    developed.     A  strong  and  prominent  longitudinal  spine 
indicates   the  necessity  that  existed  for  a  powerful  ligamentum 
nuchge.     On  each  side  of  its  upper  half  a  large  and  deep  impression 
rouo'hened  by  plate-like  bony  processes  attests  the  volume  of  the 
complexi.     The  longitudinal  spine  is  crossed  by  a  faint  inferior 
ridf^e,  and   beneath  the  crucial  spine  so  formed  there  is  an   amj^le 
smooth  area  on  either  side  for  the  insertion  of  the  deep  muscles  of 
the  neck.     The  confluence  of  the  constituent  bones  of  the  calvaria 
renders  it  a  solid  mass  of  great  density  and  thickness.     Measuring 


BY    CHARLES   W.  DE   VIS,  B.A.  393 

but  four  inches  in  length,  and  three  in  breadth,  the  average 
thickness  of  the  parietals  is  nearly  three-quarters  of  an  inch,  the 
least  thickness  of  the  occipital  one  quarter — the  bevel  of  the 
coronal  suture  is  not  less  than  thirteen  lines  in  depth.  The  sutural 
edges  are  strongly  serrated  by  more  or  less  tortuous  plate-like 
processes  continuous  from  edge  to  edge. 

The  brain -cavity  gives  us  the  form  of  the  upper  third  (there  or 
thereabouts)  of  the  brain  anteriorly,  increasing  to  its  upper  half 
posteriorly.  In  the  cast  taken  from  it  the  fore  edge  of  the  brain 
is  a  straight  line  broken  by  the  indentations  between  the  anterior 
convolutions.  The  anterior  angles  are  rounded,  behind  them  the 
sides  of  the  anterior  lobes  of  the  hemispheres  bulge  out,  but, 
the  posterior  lobes  contracting,  the  posterior  angles  are  brought 
square  or  nearly  so  with  the  anterior.  The  posterior  divaricating 
edges  of  the  hemispheres  form  with  one  another  an  angle  of  llO*^, 
and  those  of  the  cerebellum  being  parallel  with  them  respectively, 
the  outline  of  the  cerebellum  with  its  investments  is  apparently 
rhomboidal.  The  dura  mater  is  dense  over  the  cerebellum,  but 
over  the  cerebrum  much  thinner,  allowing  the  convolutions 
beneath  it  to  be  seen  pretty  distinctly.  The  upper  surface  of  the 
membrane  was  highly  vascular — the  inner  table  of  the  skull  is 
throughout  channelled  with  minute  branching  sulci,  which  on  a 
gutta-percha  impression  are  seen  to  communicate  with  the  lateral 
sinuses  and  other  trunks.  A  rudimentary  tentorium  is  developed 
on  one  side  only — on  the  other  there  is  merely  a  broad  shallow 
groove.  The  longitudinal  sinus  and  upper  limb  of  the  falx  are 
lodged  in  a  deep  median  sulcus.  The  convolutions  of  the  brain 
are  symmetrical  and  consist  mainly  of  three  pairs  arranged  in  two 
lines,  diverging  from  before  backward  to  the  Sylvian  fissure  which 
is  but  faintly  marked.  The  vermiform  process  is  of  moderate 
size — its  summit  attains  nearly  the  level  of  the  cerebrum;  the 
lateral  lobes  are  about  equal  to  it  in  breadth.  The  cerebellum  in 
its  fore  and  aft  dimension  is  to  the  cerebrum,  as  seen  in  the  cast  of 
the  brain  cavity,  as  five  to  seven,  but  the  posterior  angles  of  the 
latter  come  well  back  upon  the  cerebellum  and  permit  no  lateral 
fissure  nor  depression  between  them  to  be  seen. 


394  ON    A    FOSSIL    CALVARIA, 

I  apprehend  that  the  form  and  structure  of  the  calvaria  taken 
in  conjunction  with  the  subquadrate  and  unsegmented  outline  of 
the  brain,  forbid  the  supposition  that  it  was  of  marsupial  origin. 
A  cross  crestless  and  posteriorly  sloping  skull  cap  like  this  could 
scarcely  have  belonged  to  a  carnivorous  placental.  The  type  of 
brain  presented  by  it  does  not  accord  with  that  of  any  terrestial 
herbivore  known  to  the  writer,  who  is  therefore  compelled  to  refer 
it  to  some  aquatic  mammal.  On  comparing  the  fossil  with  the 
corresponding  part  of  the  skull  of  the  Dugong,  the  external 
resemblance  between  the  two  is  sufficiently  obvious.  The  chief, 
almost  the  only  difference,  is  the  still  greater  reduction  of  the 
parietal  crest,  and  the  oblique  instead  of  nearly  perpendicular 
descent  of  the  bone  exterior  to  the  crest.  In  other  words  the 
temporal  fossa  was  shallower,  the  muscles  working  the  jaws  feebler 
in  the  extinct  than  in  the  recent  animal.  On  reverting  to  the 
inner  side  of  the  fossil  the  rectangular  shape  of  the  hemispheres  of 
the  brain  favors,  so  far  as  it  goes,  the  suggestion  that  it  has 
Sirenenian  affinities.  But  the  objections  to  that  view  are  not 
without  weight.  They  consist  in  the  apparent  absence  of  the 
fairly  marked  division  of  the  cerebrum  into  fore  and  hind  lobes 
seen  in  both  the  living  and  extinct  forms  of  the  group — in  the 
number  and  symmetry  of  the  convolutions  in  the  presence  of  a 
rudimentary  tentorium,  and  above  all  in  the  greater  proportionate 
extent  to  which  the  cerebellum  is  uncovered.  It  is  true  that  the 
naked  cerebellum  of  the  Manatee  figured  by  Dr.  Murie  (Trans. 
Zool.  Soc,  vol.  VIII.,  pi.  25,  appears  to  be  as  much  exposed  as  that 
of  the  fossil,  but  in  a  figure  of  the  cast  of  the  brain-case  of  the 
same  animal  given  by  Professor  Owen  (Journ.  (;}eol.  Soc),  and 
in  a  similar  cast  of  Halicore  now  before  the  writer,  the  proportion 
of  the  cerebellum  to  the  cerebrum,  is,  or  seems  to  be  much  less 
than  in  the  extinct  form  under  notice.  Remembering  however, 
that  the  brains  of  the  two  surviving  genera  of  Sirenians  show  that 
considerable  modifications  may  be  consistent  with  the  general  type  of 
brain,  it  may  not  be  too  rash  to  surmise  that  a  brain  of  inferior  de- 
velopment and  a  smoothness  of  skull  indicatory  of  feebler  masticating 
power,  may  have  been  the  coadaptation  of  the  softer  vegetation. 


BY    CHARLES   W.  DE    VIS,  B.A.  395 

and  less  perilous  conditions  of  life  enjoyed  by  a  Sirenian  tenant  of 
fresh  waters.  Leaving  this  question,  however,  to  the  discoveries 
of  my  fellow-students,  I  opine  that  the  present  relic  is  the  first 
indication  we  have  had  of  the  existence  of  the  animal.  And  in 
expectation  of  that  increased  knowledge  of  its  structure  which  will 
doubtless  be  the  fruit  of  further  research,  I  propose  to  give  it 
recognition  under  the  name  of  Chronozoon  Australe.  The  fossil 
was  procured  from  the  Chinchilla  (Darling  Downs)  drift,  in  which 
it  was  of  course  associated  with  crocodiles,  turtles,  ceratodus,  &c., 
tofifether  with  land  animals. 


Eemarks  on  a  Skull    of   an   Australian    Aboriginal    from 

THE   Lachlan  District. 

By  Baron  K    de  Miklouho-Maclay. 

Plate  18. 

The  cranium,  which,  through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  C.  S.  Wilkinson, 
I  have  had  for  inspection,  is  not  complete  (the  right  temporal  bone, 
the  greater  part  of  the  sphenoid  and  the  ethmoid  bone  are  absent), 
but  in  a  fair  state  of  preservation,  which  circumstance  makes  me 
suppose  that  the  owner  of  the  same  died  not  long  ago,  and  that 
the  skull  has  not  remained  long  in  the  ground. 

This  cranium  of  a  probably  male  Australian  aboriginal,  of  very 
likely  over  forty  years  of  age  (the  sutura  sagittalis'm  not  very 
distinct),  is  remarkable  not  only  on  account  of  a  very  pronounced 
dolichocephalism  (breadth-index  66.8),  but  also  for  the  peculiar 
formation  of  the  occipital  bone.  The  superior  curved  lines  with 
the  external  occipital  protuberance  of  the  above-named  bone  form 
a  very  prominent  occipital  curved  crest,  larger  than  in  any  of  the 
skulls  I  have  ever  seen  before.  None  of  the  skulls  of  Australian 
aborigines  in  the  Australian  and  Macleay  Museums  present  such 
a  prominence  of  the  superior  curved  lines.  The  hindmost  point  of 
this  skull  is  the  occipital  protuberance,  and  not  the  convex  part  of 
the  upper  portion  of  the  occipital  bone,  (the  so-called  occipital 
point),  as  is  the  case  in  most  human  skulls. 
a2 


396  NOTES    AND    EXHIBITS. 

A  few  measures  will,  I  believe,  not  appear  quite  useless. 

Length  from  the  ophrion  to  the  occip.  point,  above  the  oceip. 
protuberance,  187  mm. 

Length  from  the  ophrion  to  the  occip.  protub.,  192  mm. 

Interparietal  breadth,  125  mm. 

Frontal  breadth  (between  the  temporal  crests  of  the  frontal 
bone),  102  mm. 

Thickness  of  the  bone  between  the  external  and  internal 
occipital   protuberance,   21  mm. 

Breadth  index,  66.8. 

Height  index,   73.2. 

EXPLANATION    OF    PLATE    18. 

Fig.  1 — Occipital  bone  of  an  Australian  aboriginal  from  the 
Lachlan  district,  from  behind  and  a  little  below,  showing  the 
prominent  curved  crest,  and  the  not  very  pronounced  inferior 
curved  lines.     (Nat.  size.) 

Fig.  2. — The  same  bone  from  the  side  showing  the  occipital 
protuberance,  the  curved  crest,  and  three  ossa  triquetra  in  the 
lambdoidal  suture. 

Fig.  3. — Diagrammatic  median  section  of  the  same  bone  made 
with  the  help  of  band  of  lead  (lame  de  plomb  of  Dr.  Marce.) 

c.  c. — Curved  crest.  m.  p. — Mastoid  process. 

c.  1  — Inferior  curved  lines.  p. — Parietal  bone. 

p. — Occipital  protuberance.  o.— Occipital  bone. 

f.  m. — Foramen  magnum.  f. — Temporal  bone. 

o.  f. — Ossa  triquetra. 

NOTES   AND    EXHIBITS. 

Professor  Stephens  exhibited  a  living  example  and  photographs 
of  the  remarkable  New  Zealand  Hatteria  ( Sphenodon,  or  Rhynch- 
osaurus)  punctata,  brought  to  Sydney  by  W.  Knight,  Esq.,  from 
Karewa  Island,  Bay  of  Islands,  6  miles  from  Tauranga.  Here 
this  lizard  lives  in  association  with  the  Mutton  birds,  whatever 
these  may  be,  in  great  numbers.  Whether  this  association  is 
based  upon  pure   friendship  may  be   doubtful.      The  affinities  of 


NOTES   AND    EXHIBITS.  397 

this  animal  are,  according  to  Huxley;  with  the  Triassic  Hyperoda' 
l^edon,  which  it  resembles  in  many  points,  as  for  example  the 
singular  action  of  the  lower  jaw  with  its  single  row  of  teeth, 
cutting  between  two  rows  in  the  upper,  one  row  being  in  the 
maxillary,  the  other  in  the  palatine  bones,  or  rather,  both  being 
carried  on  a  plate  in  which  both  bones  are  fused.  The  amphiccelian 
character  of  the  centra  is  also  an  important  point  as  connecting 
this  with  lower  or  archaic  forms. 

Owen  describes  the  osteology  of  this  creature,  under  the  name 
Rhynclwsauriis,  in  Vol.  1,  Anat.  Vert.,  p.  57,  154,  &c.,  reckoning 
it  as  a  New  Zealand  Gecko.  Gunther  has  also  described  it  under 
the  name  of  Hatteria,  Phil.  Trans.,  1869. 

Mention  is  made  of  it  in  the  earliest  notices  of  New  Zealand  ; 
and  it  appears  to  have  been  rather  an  object  of  dislike  or  super- 
stitious fear  among  the  Maories.  The  pigs  however,  as  aliens, 
feel  neither  dislike  nor  fear,  and  are  said  to  be  rapidly  exter- 
minating this  interesting  relic,  so  that  on  the  mainland  it  is 
becoming  very  scarce. 

Prof.  Stephens  also  exhibited  two  specimens  of  Pennatulidcs 
from  Burrard's  Inlet,  Victoria,  British  Columbia.  These  were 
brought  to  Sydney  by  Captain  Barnes,  of  the  "Pacific  Slope," 
who  had  obtained  them  from  the  natives.  They  are  said  to  bear 
their  polypiferous  heads  just  at  the  surface  of  the  water.  One 
of  the  specimens  was  7J,  the  other  5  feet  in  length  ;  but  as  they 
consisted  of  little  more  than  the  slender  and  cylindrical  rachis, 
curiously  like  a  dry  osier  twig  peeled  ready  for  the  basket-maker, 
it  is  not  possible  to  identify  them  with  any  described  form.  This 
exhibit  was  due  to  the  kindness  of  A.  A.  Smith,  Esq. 

Mr.  H.  Bawes  Whittell  exhibited  some  specimens  of  Tacsonia 
Exonensis,  showing  the  manner  in  which  the  honey  is  extracted 
by  the  Spine-billed  Honey-eater — Acanthorhynchus  tenuirostris 
Lath.  He  stated  that  W.  S.  Campbell,  Esq.,  of  Gladesville,  to 
whose  kindness  he  was  indebted  for  this  exhibit,  informed  him 
that  he  had  often  seen  this  bird  engaged  in  the  operation  of 
extracting  the  honey.     He  had  also  frequently  seen  it  devouring 


398  NOTES   AND   EXHIBITS. 

large  numbers  of  the  common  white  ant.  The  flower  is  a  hybrid 
raised  in  England,  and  first  imported  to  this  colony  by  Mr. 
Campbell. 

Mr.  J.  G.  Griffin,  C.E.,  exhibited  two  samples  of  gravel  used 
as  ballast  on  the  Deniliquin  and  Moama  Railway.  No.  1  was 
taken  from  the  bed  of  the  Edwards  River,  and  consisted  chiefly  of 
fine  subangular  drift,  while  No.  2  obtained  from  a  pit  12  miles 
south  from  Deniliquin,  and  at  a  depth  of  from  12  to  30  feet, 
contained  in  addition  to  fine  drift  some  waterworn  pebbles  of 
quartz,  IJ  inches  in  diameter.  Professor  Stephens  considered 
that  the  occurrence  of  such  coarse  pebbles  in  the  finer  drift  might 
be  accidental,  and  that  they  may  have  been  dropped  from  the  roots 
of  the  trees  which  were  swept  over  this  country  during  floods. 
Mr.  Macleay  thought  that  this  country  had  gradually  risen,  and 
referred  to  the  great  deposits  of  coarse  gravel  on  the  Murrum- 
bidgee  and  elsewhere  as  evidence  of  the  powerful  transporting 
currents  in  past  ages.  Mr.  Wilkinson  said  these  extensive 
deposits  probably  corresponded  in  geologic  age  with  those  of  the 
glacial  period  of  the  northern  hemisphere.  At  that  time  there 
must  have  been  a  much  heavier  rainfall  in  the  southern  hemis- 
phere than  we  have  at  the  present  day,  and  the  material  derived 
from  the  valleys  then  eroded  in  the  higher  lands  spread  over  the 
low-lying  country  and  formed  the  plains.  Some  of  the  pebbles 
resembled  those  found  in  the  Devonian  conglomerate  beds  of  the 
Hanging  Rock,  between  Tirana  and  Wagga.  Mr.  "Whittell 
remarked  that  similar  drifts  had  been  met  with  in  some  wells  sunk 
in  the  level  country  to  the  west  of  the  Darling  River. 

The  President  exhibited  some  specimens  of  fossil  insects  found 
in  tlie  tin-bearing  tertiary  deep  leads  near  Vegetable  Creek,  New 
England.  This  is  the  second  discovery  of  fossil  insects  in  Aus- 
tralia, and  the  specimens  show  the  impressions  of  larvae  and 
pupae  of  Ephemera  or  "  Mayfly.'" 

A  fossil  coral  (Gyathoj^hyllum  sjd.),  from  the  carboniferous 
rocks,  near  Jervis  Bay,  was  exhibited  on  behalf  of  the  Hon.  Jas. 
Norton. 


WEDNESDAY,    26th   SEPTEMBER,    1883. 


Dr.  James  C.  Cox,  F.L.S.,  &c.,  in  the  chair. 


Mr.  W.  H.  Caldwell,  Fellow  of  Caius  College,   Cambridge,  was 
introduced  as  a  visitor. 


MEMBERS    ELECTED. 


Arthur  W.  Stephens,  Esq.,  of  Sydney,  and  the  Reverend  Mr. 
Manning,  of  Waterloo,  were  duly  elected  Members  of  the  Society. 


DONATIONS. 

From  R.  Etheridge,  Esq.,  F.R.S., 

Six  Treatises  on  Fossils  by  Joachim  Barrande ;  Twenty-four 
Pamphlets  on  Palseontological  subjects,  by  R.  Etheridge,  Jun., 
and  three  papers  on  Geology  by  R.  Etheridge,  F.R.S. 

"  Sydney  University  Calendar.     1883-4.     From  the  Senate. 

"Art  of  Scientific  Discovery."  By  G.  Gore,  LL.D.,  F.R.S., 
1878.     From  H.  Rawes  Whittell,  Esq. 

"  System  of  Mineralogy."  By  Professors  Dana  and  Brush, 
1868.     From  H.  Rawes  Whittell,  Esq. 

"  Bulletin  de  la  Societe  Royale  de  Geographie  d'Anvers.  Tome 
VIII.     Fasc.  1  and   2.     From  the  Society. 

"  Bulletin  de  la  Soci6te  Imperiale  des  Naturalistes  de  Moscow. 
Tome  LYII.     No.  4  for  1882.     From  the  Society. 


400  DONATIONS. 

"  Proceedings  of  the  Zoological  Society  of  London."     Part  4.  for 

1882,  and  Part  1,  for  1883.     Also  a  ''  List  of   Fellows.  &c.,  1883> 
Prom  the  Society. 

*•'  Journal  of  Conchology."  Vol.  TV.,  Nos.  2  and  3,  April  and 
July,  1883.  From  the  Conchological  Society  of  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland. 

*' Science."     Vol.  IL,  Nos.  25  to  28,  July  27th  to  August  17th 

1883.  From  the  Editor. 

"Feuille  des  Jeunes  Naturalistes."  No.  154.  Aout,  1883. 
From  the  Editor. 

"  Memoires  de  la  Societe  Koyale  des  Sciences  de  Liege,"  2® 
Serie,  Tome  X.,  1883.     From  the  Society. 

"  Proceedings  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  at  Phila- 
delphia."    Part  1,  for  1883.     From  the  Society. 

"  Botany  of  the  Antarctic  Voyage  of  H.  M.  discovery  ships, 
Erebus  and  Terror,  in  the  years  1839-1843."  By  Dr.  Joseph 
Hooker,  F.R.S.,  &c.  Parts  1  and  2,  and  two  Volumes  of  Plates., 
4to.     FromtheHon.  P.  G.  King,  M.L.C. 

"Don's  Gardener's  Dictionary."  Four  volumes  4to.,  1831  to 
1838.     From  the  Hon.  P.  G.  King,  M.L.C. 

The  following  works  from  the  Hon.  William  Macleay,  F.L.S.  : — 

"  Cyclopaedia  of  Anatomy  and  Physiology."  Edited  by  Robert 
B  Todd,  M.D.     Four  volumes.     1836  to  1852. 

"  Wood's  Illustrated  -Natural  History."     1874. 

"  Cuvier's  Animal  Kingdom."     Illustrated  by  Lanseer. 

"  System  of  Mineralogy."     By  Professor  Dana,  1875. 

"  Manual  of  Mineralogy  and  Lithology."  By  Professor  Dana^ 
1882. 

"  Physical  Geography  of  the  Sea,  and  its  Meteorology.  By 
Captain  Maury.     1879. 

'•' Introduction  to  Conchology."    By  Dr.  George  Johnston.   1850. 
"Elements  of  Zoology."     Wilson.     1873. 
Darwin's  Works.     Six  volumes.     1875  to  1881. 
"  The  Crayfish."     By  Professor  Huxley.     1880. 


papers  read. 

On  a  very  Dolichocephalic   Skull  of   an  Australian 
Aboriginal. 

By  IST.  de  Miklouho-Maclay. 

Plate  19. 

Although  the  index  of  breadth  or  the  cephalic  index  of  the  skull 
does  not  appear  to  modern  anthropologists  of  so  great  an  im- 
portance for  the  classification  of  human  races,  as  in  the  time  of 
Eetzius,  it  remains  still  a  very  important  character  in  Oraniologv. 

A  skull  which  has  been  lately  acquired  by  the  Australian 
Museum,  is  a  most  interesting  specimen  as  regards  its  very  low 
cephalic  index,  which  is,  I  dare  say,  a  lower  index  than  that  of  any 
crania  ever  described  before.  This  skull,  or  more  correctly  the 
cranium,  (the  bones  of  the  face  are  broken  off,  and  the  lower  jaw  is 
wanting),  was,  before  the  Museum  purchased  it,  in  possession 
of  Mr.  Hume,  a  "  Phrenologist,"  residing  and  lecturing  at  present 
in  Sydney,  Finding  the  skull  of  great  interest  on  account  of  its 
form,  I  went  myself  to  see  Mr.  Hume  to  ascertain  the  origin  of 
the  same.  Mr.  Hume  told  me  that  he  had  had  the  skull  in  his 
collection  for  about  twenty  years,  and  had  picked  it  up  himself  in 
the  bush  somewhere,  he  does  not  remember  exactly,  between 
Toowoomba  and  Dalby,  in  1863  or  '64.  According  to  the  Statistical 
Keports  of  the  Colony  of  Queensland,  the  first  importations  of 
South  Sea  Islanders  (chiefly  Melanesians),  took  place  in  1867, 
so  that  it  is  nearly  certain  that  the  skull  belonged  to  a  native  of 
Queensland. 

This  cranium  is  remarkable  for  its  extreme  length.  The  Ophrio- 
occipital  length  is  202  mm.,  the  Glabello-occipital  length  204  mm., 
by  a  breadth  of  119  mm.  So  that  the  cephalic  index,  calculated 
on  the  ophrio-occipital  length  is  58.9  (the  same  index  calculated  by 
the  Glabello-occipital  length  is  58.3.) 


402  ON   A   DOLICHOCEPHALIC    SKULL, 

I  must  especially  remark,  that  the  skull  is  a  normal  one,  i.e.,  does 
not  present  even  the  slightest  indications  of  being  deformed. 

It  is  a  very  fair  specimen  of  the  so-called  type  of  Roof-shaped 
skulls. 

The  index  of  height  of  the  skull  (from  the  Basion*  to  the 
Bregma!  131  mm.),  on  account  of  the  great  length  of  the  same, 
falls  below  the  average  index  of  height  of  the  Australian  race, 
which  is  (according  to  the  ninth  edition  of  Quain's  Anatomy 
(Vol.  I.,  p.  82),  71. — In  our  case  it  is  64.8. 

In  reference  to  my  statement,  that  the  present  skull  is  the  most 
dolichocephalic  than  has  been  hitherto  described,  I  will  offer  a  few 
remarks.  As  far  back  as  1867,  Prof.  Huxley  in  a  paper  "  on  two 
widely  contrasted  forms  of  the  human  cranium,"  (Journal  of 
Anatomy  and  Physiology,  Vol.  1,  1867,  p.  60),  records  a  very  low 
breadth  index  of  a  skull  of  unknown  origin.  In  a  paper  read 
by  me  before  the  Koninglijke  Natuurkundige  Vereeniging  of 
Batavia,  in  1874,  and  published  in  the  Natuurkundig  Tijdschrift 
of  the  same  year.  (Vol.  xxxiv.,  p.  345),  under  the  title,  "  Ueher 
Bracliyce2ohalie  bei  den  Papuas  von.  New  Guinea^  %  I  mention 
a  skull  of  a  native  (Papuan)  from  the  Island  Namatote,  near 
the  Coast  of  Papua-Koviay,  which  breadth-index  was  calculated 
being  62.0. 

Prof.  W.  H.  Flower  in  a  paper,  "  On  the  Cranicd  Characters 
of  the  Natives  oj  the  Fiji  Islands  "  (Journal  of  the  Anthropological 
Institute,  November  1880),  gives  some  very  low  cephalic  indices 
of  some  skulls  of  the  Kai-Colos,  or  Mountaineers  of  the  interior  of 
VitiLevu;  the  lowest  of  these  indices  was  62.9,  calculated  on 
the  Ophrio-occipital  length,  and  61.9  on  the  Glabello-occipital 
length. 

The  index  of  the  skull  before  me  is  58.9,  and  is  therefore  the 
narrowest  skull  ever  measured.* 

*Basion — Middle  of  the  anterior  margin  of  the  foramen  magnum. 

^ Brec/ma— Point  of  junction  of  the  coronal  and  sagittal  sutures. 

JThis  paper  was  the  result  of  a  great  number  of  measurements,  the  careful  examination 
and  comparison  of  which,  led  me  to  the  conclusion,  that  the  cephalic  index  of  skulls  of 
Natives  of  New  Guinea  varies  from  62  to  84.3. 


BY   N.    DE    MIKLOUHO-MACLAY.  403 

Some  additional  measures  of  the  cranium. 
Sagittal  length  of   the  frontal  bone,  from  the  transverse  suture  of 

the  union  with  the  nasal  bone  to  the  coronal  suture...  135  mm. 
Sagittal  length  of  the  parietal  bone,  or  more  correctly,  length  of 

the  obliterated  sagittal  suture  146  mm. 

Sagittal  length  of  the  occipital  bone  from  the  lambdoid  suture  to 

the  posterior  margin  of  the  foramen  magnum   about  (because 

this  margin  is  defective). . .^ 122  mm. 

Total  horizontal  circumference 538  mm. 

Minimum  frontal   diameter 88  mm. 

Maximum  frontal  diameter  above  the  Pterion 102  mm. 

Maximum  parietal  breadth 119  mm. 

Diameter  between  the  ridges  of  the  mastoid  process 122  mm. 

Explanation  of  Plate  19. 

Pig.  1. — Side  view  of  a  skull  of  an  Australian  aboriginal  from 
Queensland  (B.  1 ,,  of  the  Craniologlcal  Collection  of  the  Australian 
Museum  in  Sydney),  represented  one-half  of  nsit.  size. 

The  nasal  bone,  the  lower  part  of  the  sup.  maxillary  bone,  the 
Zygoma  and  the  inferior  Maxilla  are  wanting.  The  bones  of  the 
face  of  the  other  side  are  completely  broken  off. 

0.  p. — Ophryon  or  supraorbital  point.  g. — Glabella. 

p.  t. — Pterion. 

b.  g. — Bregma  (point  of  junction  of  the  sagittal  and  lambdoid 
sutures.) 

b.  s. — Basion  (middle  of  the  anterior  margin  of  the  foramen- 
magnum. 

p.  m. — Mastoid  process. 

0.  — Occipital  point  (the  point  of  the  occiput  in  the  mesial  plane 
most  removed  from  the  Ophryon.) 

t, — Inion  (external  occipital  protuberance) 

z. — Zygoma  broken  off  above  the  glenoid  fossa. 

0,  1. — Sup.  curved  line. 

Pig.  2. — View  of  the  same  skull  from  above.  One-half  nat. 
size.     The  sagittal  suture  is  completely  obliterated. 

Pig.  3. — View  of  the  same  skull /rom  behind  {one-hall  nat.  size.), 
to    show  the  well  pronounced  roof  shaped  form  of  the  cranium. 


404  on  a  fossil  humerus, 

On  a  Fossil  Humerus. 
By  Charles  W.  De  Vis,  B.A. 

A  humerus  which  seems  to  deserve  attention  from  students  of 
oar  drift  fauna  has  lately  been  received  by  the  Queensland  Museum 
from  the  Darling  Downs.  In  size  it  is  about  one-third  less  than 
the  arm  bone  of  a  Diprotodon,  and  at  a  passing  glance  is  a  reduced 
copy  of  that  bone.  A  little  scrutiny,  however,  and  differences  are 
seen  to  exist,  which  in  the  aggregate  amount  to  at  least  specific 
variation,  and  no  sooner  do  we  acknowledge  that  degree  of 
distinctiveness,  than  we  are  prompted  to  ask  whether  we  can 
accept  it  as  a  specific  one  only — in  other  words  whether  we  may 
fairly  conclude  from  it  that  there  existed  in  company  with  the 
great  DijDrotodon,  a  comparatively  small  and  not  very  closely 
similar  species  of  the  genus.  The  obvious  objection  to  this  is  that 
we  have  no  confirmatory  evidence,  more  especially  not  a  solitary 
tooth,  whereby  to  justify  the  assumption — and  considering  the 
multitude  of  jaws  of  Diprotodon  and  its  associations  occurring  in 
the  drift,  the  total  absence  of  the  teeth  of  this  assumed  species  is  a 
fair  though  negative  ground  for  putting  aside  the  idea  of  its 
existence.  But  if  we  do,  there  is  nothing  known  to  which  the 
humerus  in  question  can  be  attributed.  In  size  indeed,  it 
corresponds  to  the  probable  dimensions  of  the  bone  in  Nototherium 
Mitchelli,  but  to  that  animal  a  humerus  of  quite  a  different  kind 
has  been  already  appropriated.  Is  it  possible  that  exception  may 
reasonably  be  taken  to  that  appropriation  ?  The  suggestion  is 
ventured,  and  the  considerations  which  have  led  to  it  are  offered 
with  the  utmost  deference. 

The  genus  Nototherium,  was  established  by  Professor  Owen  in 
1844,  for  the  reception  of  the  animal  represented  by  certain  molar 
teeth,  with  which  we  are  now  familiar — teeth  with  closed  fangs, 
and  therefore  of  limited  growth — teeth  which  "  suggested  at  first 
sight  that  the  fossils  might  belong  to  some  smaller  species  of 
Diprotodon."  (Foss.  Mam.  p.  249.)  When,  subsequently,  the 
skull  of  Nototherium  came  into  his  hands.  Professor  Owen  was 
led  to  recognize  in  it  certain  marks  of  afiinity  with  the  Wombats, 


BY   CHARLES    W.  DE   VIS,  B.A.  405 

and  in  determining  that  relationship,  he  seems  to  have  allowed 
even  more  weight  to  the  cranial  that  he  had  previously  conceded 
to  the  dental  characters  of  the  animal  which  he  had  then  regarded 
as  less  nearly  allied  to  Phascolomys  than  Diprotodon  appeared 
to  be. 

It  is  almost  needless  to  say,  that  from  the  Nototherian  type  of 
dentition,  that  of  the  Wombats,  recent  and  extinct,  differs  to  a 
degree  which  in  placental  mammals  would  be  considered  extreme. 
In  Phascolomys  the  teeth  have,  as  all  are^aware,  persistent  pulps, 
and  therefore  continuous  growth.  Professor  Owen  carefully  points 
this  out  to  us  at  p.  286,  where,  after  correlating  Nototherium  with 
Macropus  and  Diprotodon  with  Phascolomys  by  virtue  of  the  front 
upper  incisor,  he  goes  on  to  say — ''  But  in  the  number  and 
disposition  of  the  upper  incisors  as  in  the  bilophodont  molars  of 
limited  growth,  both  the  larger  extinct  genera  retain  the  poephagous 
character  as  contradistinguished  from  the  rhizophagous  modification 
shown  by  the  Wombats  among  the  existing  marsupial  herbivores." 
and  further,  speaking  of  the  lower  incisors,  says  that  in  the  adult 
Nototherium,  "this  tooth  is  far  from  having  the  proportions  and 
depth  of  implantation  which  make  it  resemble  in  Diprotodon  the 
lower  pair  of  scalpriform  teeth  of  the  Wombat."  These  quotations 
are  necessary  to  show  Professor  Owen's  opinion  of  the  affinities  of 
the  several  genera  as  determined  by  the  teeth.  We  are  clearly 
taught  that  in  their  molars  neither  genus  of  the  huge  grazers  is 
allied  to  the  Wombats,  and  that  in  the  incisors  Diprotodon  indeed 
resembles  "  approximates "  Phascolomys,  but  that  ISTototherium 
does  not  even  this — in  brief  that  the  old  dentition  of  the  latter 
differs  widely  from  that  of  the  Wombat,  more  widely  than  does 
that  of  Diprotodon.  Now  bearing  in  mind  that  our  safest  concep- 
tions of  the  structure  of  an  extinct  mammal  are  based  upon  its 
dentition,  bearing  also  in  mind  that  Diprotodon  was  according  to 
its  dentition  a  browsing  beast  of  mighty  bulk,  and  that  we  know 
nothing  of  it  contradictory  of  the  general  analogy  of  limb  structure 
in  other  such  beasts,  namely,  that  their  long  bones  are  little  more 
than  pedestals  of  support,  we  are  prepared  to  admit  without 
hesitation,  the  justness  of  Professor  Owen's  ascription  to  it  of  the 


406  ON   A   FOSSIL   HUMERUS, 

thigh  bone  figured  in  plate  xxxiv.  of  the  "  Fossil  Mammals." 
Further,  as  it  is  but  reasonable  to  infer  that  the  fore  limb  cf  the 
animal  would  be  characterised  by  the  like  massive  simplicity  we  are 
perfectly  ready  to  concur  with  the  illustrious  author  of  the  Fossil 
Mammals  in  attributing  to  Diprotodon  the  humerus  given  in  plate 
XXXI.,  it  is  in  fact,  just  such  a  bone  as  we  should  have  looked  for. 
From  that  recognition  we  should  obtain  a  just  conception  of  the 
general  form  of  the  arm-bone  of  Nototherium,  assuming  only  that 
it  was  rather  more  unlike  that  of  the  Wombats  than  the  one 
delineated.  If  on  comparing  Diprotodon  and  Phascolomys,  we  are 
most  willing  to  admit  that  the  very  unlike  teeth  of  the  Wombat 
are  attended  by  a  very  unlike  humerus,  a  bone  formed  by  or  for 
powerful  action  in  difi'erent  directions,  squat,  angular,  twisted  and 
covered  with  ridges  and  asperities,  as  wont  is  with  fossorial  arm- 
bones  we  are  the  less  disposed  to  look  in  that  direction  for  the 
humerus  of  Nototherium.  It  is  therefore  with  perplexity  that  we 
look  upon  the  bone  figured  in  plate  xxxvii.,  as  the  Nototherian 
humerus — a  perplexity  increased  by  the  absence  of  any  reasons 
declaring  for  the  determination.  Nototherium,  Owen,  as  established 
on  the  teeth,  and  Nototherium,  Owen,  as  represented  by  the 
humerus,  are  or  appear  to  be  two  animals — it  would  be  highly 
interesting  to  know  why  we  should  believe  in  their  identity.  The 
subject  of  plate  xxxviL,  is  pronouncedly  phascolomine.  Prof. 
Owen  directs  our  special  attention  to  the  phascolomyan  characters 
which  may  in  truth  be  said  to  be  exaggerated  in  it.  If  the  bone  be 
really  the  humerus  of  Nototherium,  that  animal  could  scarcely 
have  been  a  remove  from  the  genus  Phascolomys,  and  it  was 
to  all  appearance  a  burrower,  whilst  its  relative  the  Diprotodon, 
said  to  be  the  nearer  to  Phascolomys  by  dentition,  was 
in  the  structure  and  ofiice  of  its  fore  limb  a  mere  marcher.  It 
is  surely  improbable  that  so  great  a  difiference  should  exist  between 
the  arm-bones  of  two  animals  so  closely  allied  in  dental  characters 
as  to  have  been  nearly  placed  at  first  sight  in  the  same  genus 
without  direct  or  at  least  good  constructive  proof  to  the  contrary, 
we  cannot  allow  a  much  greater  latitude  of  differentiation  to  the 
limb  bone  than  we  find  in  the  teeth.     On  the  other  hand,  we 


BY   CHARLES    W.  DE    VIS,  B.A.  407 

cannot  well  refuse  to  a  bone  presenting  an  about  equal  phase  of 
differentiation  a  preferential  claim  on  our  recognition.  Such  a 
bone  is  the  one  of  which  I  now  submit  a  cast.  The  general  like- 
ness it  bears  to  the  Diprotodon  arm-bone  becomes  apparent  when 
it  is  laid  beside  a  cast  of  the  latter  humerus.  It  only  remains  to 
invite  attention  to  its  characteristic  features,  premising  that  its 
adult  condition  is  evidenced  by  the  state  of  the  epiphyses. 

The  ratios  of  the  length  and  breath  of  the  bone  under  review 
to  the  length  of  the  lower  molar  series  of  the  Nototherium 
Mitchelli  are  nearly  the  same  as  the  proportions  between  the  like 
elements  of  comparison  in  its  most  gigantic  relative  ;  the  proportion 
of  the  length  to  the  breadth  is  exactly  the  same  in  the  bones  of 
both  animals.  The  head  of  the  Nototherian  bone  is  of  the  same 
general  form  as  in  Diprotodon,  and  rises  but  slightly  above  the 
level  of  the  outer  tuberosity,  in  the  latter  respect  differing  from  the 
fossil  figured  in  plate  (Foss.  Mam.),  which  however,  appears  to 
be  somewhat  imperfect,  but  agreeing  almost  precisely  with  the 
original  of  the  accompanying  cast.  The  other  tuberosity  is  in  both 
animals  well  developed,  and  surmounted  by  a  low  fore-and-aft 
ridge.  The  rough  ridge  representing  the  inner  tuberosity  is  in 
Nototherium  on  a  lower  transverse  parallel  than  in  Diprotodon — ■ 
in  the  latter  the  depression  between  it  and  the  head  is  on  the  plane 
of  the  outer  tuberosity,  whereas  in  the  former  the  highest  (most 
proximal)  point  of  the  depression  is  fully  an  inch  below  the 
tuberosity.  The  bicipital  groove  is  shallower  in  Nototherium  than 
in  Diprotodon.  On  the  fore  side  of  the  shaft  the  broad  ridge 
falling  from  the  outer  tuberosity  is  much  fuller  at  its  origin  in  the 
smaller  bone,  in  the  larger  it  curves  gently  and  regularly  as  it 
descends,  maintains  anearly  level  summit  from  nearthe  tuberosity  to 
the  beginning  of  the  middle  fifth  of  the  shaft,  then  subsiding  very 
gradually  disappears  midway  between  the  lateral  edges  of  the  shaft 
in  Nototherium,  commencing  at  once  on  the  level  of  the  tuberosity 
it  goes  straight  and  full  to  scarcely  the  upper  third  of  the  shaft, 
increases  for  a  space  in  height,  then  curving  suddenly  outwards 
ends  abruptly  nearer  (comparatively)  to  the  head  and  to  the  outer 
edge.     The  external  tubercle  has  the  same  situation  in  both  bones, 


408  ON   A   FOSSIL    HUMERUS, 

i.  e.,  in  the  middle  of  the  outer  edge,  but  by  no  means  the  same 
form,  in  Diprotodon,  it  is  a  compressed  widely  expanded  ridge,  in 
Nototherium  a  bilobed  tuberosity.  The  rough  surface  on  the 
upper  part  of  the  back  of  the  shaft  described  and  figured  as  a  well- 
defined  oval  in  Diprotodon  is  in  Nototherium  very  rugose,  but 
shapeless  and  indefinite  in  extent.  The  lateral  expansion  of  the 
distal  end  of  the  shaft  has  a  gradual  increment  in  Diprotodon,  a 
comparatively  sudden  one  in  Nototherium.  The  inner  condylar 
ridge  is,  as  might  be  expected  imperforate  in  the  smaller,  as  it  is  in 
the  larger  animal — otherwise  also  they  are  much  alike  in  this 
region.  In  the  ectocondylar  ridge  on  the  other  hand,  they  difi'er 
markedly.  In  Nototherium  it  commences  much  aearer  the 
external  ridge,  and  is  suddenly  flattened  out  into  an  almost  wing- 
like expansion ;  it  is  also  much  less  angular.  The  condyles  in 
Nototherium  are  relatively  less  in  fore-and-aft  thickness,  and  are 
set  on  much  more  obliquely  to  the  long  axis  of  the  bone.  In  form 
they  difier  but  little  from  those  of  Diprotodon,  but  the  trochlear 
constriction  between  them  is  much  greater.  The  olecranal  fossa  is 
more  limited  in  extent  and  of  greater  depth. 

It  will  bo  seen  that  the  characters  of  the  bone  under  examination 
bring  it  well  within  the  range  of  family  resemblance,  and  at  the 
same  time  keep  it  aloof  from  a  strictly  generic  likeness  to  the 
humerus  of  Diprotodon.  It  may  be  acknowledged  that  these  are 
conditions  which  can  only  be  fulfilled  by  a  humerus  of  Nototherium. 
Should  this  judgment  appear  sound,  the  theory  which  has  gained 
popular  headway  that  Nototherium  was  an  animal  midway  between 
a  Kangaroo  and  Wombat,  will  be  so  far  unsupported.  Deprived 
of  its  phascolomine  arm-bone,  it  will  ajDpear  that,  inasmuch  as  it 
was  a  marsupial  and  a  herbivorous  one,  it  had  certain  minor  points 
of  resemblance  to  its  extant  relatives,  but  that  these  are  in  them- 
selves quite  insufficient  to  prove  that  its  relatives  are  anything 
nearer  than  cousins  germane. 


by  charles  w.  de  vis,  b.a.  409 

Notices  of  some  Undescribed  Species  of  Coleoptera  in  the 

Brisbane    Museum. 

By  William  Macleay,   F.L.S.,  &c. 

Mr.  De  Yis  the  Curator  of  the  Brisbane  Museum,  sent  me  lately 
some  hundreds  of  species  of  Coleoptera,  (which  he  had  picked  out 
of  the  Museum  collection),  without  name,  and  in  most  instances 
without  any  indication  of  locality  or  even  country.  He  sent  them 
in  the  hope  that  I  might  be  able,  by  reference  to  my  very  large 
collection  in  that  branch  of  Natural  History,  to  furnish  him  with 
the  names  of  some  of  them  at  least.  This,  I  am  glad  to  say,  I 
shall  be  enabled  to  do,  to  a  very  considerable  extent,  but  it  is 
a  work  that  demands  time,  and  it  will  probably  be  weeks  before 
I  shall  have  got  entirely  through  the  collection.  I  find,  so  far  as 
I  have  gone,  that  there  are  a  number  of  species  new  to  me,  and 
these  or  such  of  them  as  I  can  confidently  pronounce  from  my 
previous  acquaintance  with  the  groups  to  which  they  belong  to  be 
undescribed,  I  shall  from  time  to  time  name  and  describe.  I  may 
mention  that  in  most  cases  each  species  is  represented  by  a  single 
specimen  only,  so  that  the  identification  of  the  genus  by  dissection 
becomes  impossible,  without  destroying  or  injuring  the  insect; 
these  cases  I  have  been  compelled  to  pass  by  altogether. 

Fam.     CARABID^. 
Pamborus  viridi-aureus. 

Of  the  general  form  and  sculpture  of  P.  alternans,  but  much 
smaller,  proportionately  shorter,  and  more  brilliant  in  colouration. 

The  head  is  black,  the  palpi  and  antennae  piceous,  the 
terminal  seven  joints  of  the  latter  clothed  with  yellowish  pile. 
The  thorax  is  longer  than  broad,  emarginate  at  the  apex, 
rounded  on  the  sides,  and  becoming  narrower  at  the  posterior 
angles,  which  are  not  quite  so  largely  produced  as  in  P.  alternans  ; 
the  upper  surface  is  a  little  convex,  very  nitid,  and  black  with  a 
golden  green  reflection,  particularly  on  the  lateral  margins  and 
posterior  angles  ;  the  median  and  two  basal  lines  are  deeply  marked. 


410  SOME   UNDESCRIBED    SPECIES    OF    COLEOPTERA, 

Tlie  elytra  are  of  oval  form,  convex,  broader  than  the  thorax 
and  about  twice  the  length ;  the  sculpture  resembles  that  of 
P.  alternans ;  the  costse  are  smooth  and  of  a  violet  black  colour, 
the  intervals  are  deep  and  densely  filled  with  somewhat  transverse 
granules  of  a  very  brilliant  greenish-gcld.  The  legs  and  under 
surface  of  the  body  are  piceous-black,  and  present  no  distinguishing 
specific  characters. 

Long.  13  lin.,  lat.  5  lin. 

There  is  nothing  to  indicate  the  locality  where  this  species  was 
obtained,  but  there  is  every  probability  that  it  was  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Brisbane,  as  the  northern  parts  of  the  East  Coast  of 
New  South  Wales,  and  the  southern  parts  of  Queensland,  seem  to 
be  the  home  of  the  genus. 

There  are  two  distinct  plans  of  sculpture  of  the  elytra  in 
Pamhorus,  one  of  the  type  of  P.  alternans,  comprising  morbillosus, 
Macleayi,  viridis,  and  the  present  species,  the  other  of  the  type  of 
P.  Guerinii  including  Brishanensis,  and  Pradieri. 

Catascopus  laticollis. 

Greenish  black,  very  nitid  ;  antennae,  palpi,  legs  and  under 
surface  of  body  dark  piceous.  Head  with  the  eyes,  which  are 
large  and  prominent,  as  broad  as  the  thorax,  the  frontal  impressions 
nearly  parallel.  Thorax  :  broader  than  long,  almost  truncate  in 
front,  except  at  the  angles  which  are  prominent  and  recurved, 
slightly  rounded  on  the  sides,  and  truncate  at  the  base,  with  the 
posterior  angles  acute  ;  there  is  a  deep  transverse  impression  at 
some  distance  from  the  apex,  a  still  deeper  one  close  to  the  base,  a 
distinct  median  line,  and  a  recurved  lateral  margin  in  which  are  a 
few  puncture,  each  puncture  with  a  long  seta.  Elytra  broader 
than  the  thorax,  and  slightly  convex,  with  seven  minutely  punc- 
tured striae  on  each  elytron,  and  a  few  large  punctures  on  the 
lateral  margins,  which  are  broad,  slightly  recurved  and  of  a 
coppery  lustre ;  the  suture  terminates  in  a  spine,  but  the  other 
angle  of  the  elytral  sinuosity  is  simply  acute. 

Lonoj.  5  lin. 

Probably  from  Cape  York,  but  marked,    *'  Albania  Downs." 


BY   WILLIAM   MACLEAY,  F.L.S.,  &C.  411 

EUTOMA    PUNCTIPENNE. 

Blue,  subnitid,  the  antennae,  palpi,  and  legs  dark  piceoiis.  Head 
as  broad  as  the  thorax,  the  frontal  impressions  deep,  diverging 
posteriorly  and  reaching  the  back  of  the  head.  Thorax  longer 
than  broad,  parallel-sided,  truncate  in  front,  and  rounded  at  the 
posterior  angles  and  base ;  there  are  three  seta-bearing  punctures 
in  each  lateral  margin.  Elytra  twice  the  length  of  the  thorax, 
convex,  parallel-sided,  and  rounded  in  front  and  behind,  with  four 
(sometimes  five)  impressed  punctures  on  each  elytron  in  a  line 
nearer  to  the  lateral  margin  than  to  the  suture,  there  is  also  a 
close  row  of  punctures  in  the  lateral  margins  and  on  the  base.  The 
anterior  tibise  are  strongly  bidentated  externally.  The  somewhat 
dull  blueness  of  this  species  is  caused  by  the  whole  upper  surface 
being  densely  covered  with  very  minute  punctures,  visible  only 
under  a  powerful  lens. 

Long,  7  lin.,  lat.  1  lin. 

Carenum  terr^  regin^. 

Of  the  type  of  G.  marginatum,  but  smaller  and  of  less  elongate  form. 
Black,  subnitid.  Head  broad  and  flat,  with  the  frontal  impressions 
quite  parallel.  The  antennae  are  more  slender  than  in  G.  mar- 
ginatum. The  thorax  is  broader  than  the  head,  broader  than  long, 
truncate  in  front  with  the  anterior  angles  very  slightly  produced, 
rounded  on  the  sides,  and  broadly  rounded  behind  with  an  indistinct 
emargination  at  each  posterior  angle,  and  a  distinct  one  in  the 
middle  j  the  median  line  is  rather  faintly  marked  ;  the  lateral 
margin  narrow,  reflexed,  of  a  green  hue,  and  furnished  each  with  two 
seta  bearing  punctures.  The  elytra  are  as  wide  as  the  thorax,  and 
about  twice  the  length,  convex,  ovate,  slightly  opaque  owing  to 
minute  punctures  only  visible  under  a  lens,  and  lightly  but 
distinctly  striate-punctate,  with  an  impressed  puncture  on  the 
posterior  third  of  each  elytron  on  the  fourth  stria  from  the  suture, 
and  a  series  of  large  punctures  along  the  lateral  margins,  which 
are  green.  The  anterior  tibiae  are  strongly  bidentated  externally, 
with  one  or  two  very  minute  teeth  above,  as  in  many  of  the  C. 
marginatum  group. 

Long.  8  lin.,  lat.  3  lin.     Ticketed  Albania  Downs. 
a3 


412  SOME     UNDESCRIBED   SPECIES   OF   COLEOPTERA, 

Carenum    IANTHINXJM. 

Also  of  the  C.  marginatum  group. 

Black,  nitid,  thorax  and  elytra  dark  violet  blue.  Head  broad, 
the  frontal  impressions  diverging  much  behind.  Thorax  much 
like  that  of  C.  terrce-regince,  but  with  the  anterior  angles  more 
produced  and  the  base  more  completely  rounded.  Elytra  rather 
narrower  than  the  thorax,  convex,  and  ovate,  with  the  faintest 
traces  of  striae,  with  an  impressed  puncture  on  the  posterior  third 
of  each  elytron,  and  with  a  series  of  punctures  in  the  reilexed 
lateral  margins.  The  anterior  tibiae  are  bidentated  externally 
with  a  few  minute  teeth  above. 

Long.  9  lin.,  lat.  3  lin. 

Carenum  de  Yisii. 

Of  the  C.  peoylexum  group. 

Black,  subnitid,  the  margins  of  the  thorax  and  elytra  of  a  bluish 
green.  Head  broad,  slightly  convex,  the  frontal  impressions 
diverging  in  a  semi-circular  sweep.  Thorax  a  little  broader  than 
the  head,  broader  than  long,  truncate  in  front  with  the  angles 
produced,  and  rounded  on  the  sides  and  behind  with  the  margin 
slightly  emarginate  on  each  side  of  the  base,  and  on  the  base  itself, 
which  is  narrow  ;  the  median  line  is  moderately  well  marked, 
and  there  is  a  puncture  in  each  lateral  margin  near  the  anterior 
angle.  The  elvtra  are  as  broad  as  the  thorax  and  about  twice  the 
length,  ovate,  slightly  concave  on  the  base^  and  obsoletely  striate- 
punctate,  with  the  interspaces  seemingly  a  little  elevated,  and 
without  impressed  punctures,  excepting  in  the  lateral  margin.  The 
anterior  tibise  strongly  bidentated  externally. 

Long.  9  lin  ,  lat  3  J  lin. 

Carenum  pusillum. 
The  smallest  Carenum  I  have  seen.  It  belongs  to  the  group  of 
which  C.  Bonelli  is  the  type.  Nitid,  bluish-green  above,  piceous 
black  beneath  and  on  the  antennae,  palpi  and  legs.  Head  broad, 
the  frontal  impressions  diverging  backwards  and  terminating  in  a 
transverse   depression.     Thorax   scarcely  broader  than  the  head. 


BY  WILLIAM    MACLEAY,  F.L.S.,  &C.  413 

and  broader  than  long,  truncate  in  front,  and  rounded  towards  the 
base  which  is  narrow  and  not  emarginate  ;  there  is  a  deep  im- 
pression at  each  angle  of  the  base,  and  a  well-marked  median  line 
on  the  disc.  The  elytra  are  not  quite  the  width  of  the  thorax, 
and  about  twice  its  length,  of  oval  form,  and  marked  with  coarsely- 
punctured  almost  obsolete  striae  :  there  are  two  impressed  punc- 
tures on  each  elytron ;  the  one,  a  third  of  the  length  from  the 
base,  the  others  about  one-fourth  from  the  apex.  The  anterior 
tibiae  are  strongly  bidentated  externally. 

Long.  4  J  lin.,  lat.  1  lin. 

In  the  descriptions  given  of  the  foregoing  species  of  Scaritidce,  I 
have  alluded  to  the  groups  of  Carenum  to  which  they  seemed  to 
belong,  and  in  explanation  of  that  term  I  must  refer  the  reader  to 
a  paper  on  the  Scaritidse  of  New  Holland,  read  by  me  at  a 
meeting  of  the  Entomological  Society  of  Sydney  in  the  year  1865, 
and  printed  in  the  first  volume  of  the  Transactions  of  that  Society. 
A  reference  to  the  table  at  the  end  of  that  paper  will  explain 
tolerably  well  what  I  mean,  even  though  there  have  been  vast 
additions  to  the  number  of  species  since  that  period,  and  some  of 
my  sub-divisions  of  the  genus  CareniiTn  have  been  elevated  into 
independent  genera. 

Indeed  so  many  have  been  the  additions  made  and  changes  pro- 
pounded in  this  very  interesting  and  beautiful  Family  of  Insects 
of  late  years,  that  a  complete  revision  of  it  is  much  required,  and 
the  task  is  one  which  I  have  almost  decided  upon  undertaking. 
Indeed  it  seems  natural  that  I  should,  for  the  only  naturalists 
who  besides  myself  have  paid  much  attention  to  the  study  of  the 
Australian  Scaritidce, — Count  Castelnau  and  Baron  De  Chaudoir, 
are  both  unfortunately  dead. 

The  two  other  species  of  Adejohagous  Coleoptera,  which  I  now  pro- 
ceed to  describe  belong  to  the  largest  sub-family  of  the  Carahidce — 
the  Feronidce — also  very  numerously  represented  in  Australia,  and 
curiously  enough,  the  insects  of  that  family  had  also  long  been  an 
especial  subject  of  study  and  investigation  to  the  two  eminent 
naturalists  whose  names  I  have  just  mentioned  with  reference  to 
the  Scaritidce. 


414  SOME   UNDESCRIBED    SPECIES    OF    COLEOPTERA, 

TiBARISUS   ROBUSTUS. 

Black,  nitid.  Head  broad,  smooth,  slightly  convex,  with 
two  short  oblique  impressions  on  each  side  in  front.  Mandi- 
bles strong.  Thorax  broader  than  the  head,  and  broader 
than  long,  the  anterior  angles  prominent,  the  sides  strongly- 
margined  with  a  strong  puncture  in  the  upper  half  of  the  margin, 
rounded  in  the  middle,  the  base  truncate  and  slightly  narrower 
than  the  apex  ;  the  median  line  is  distinct,  and  there  are  two 
impressions  on  each  side  of  it  at  the  base,  one  deep  and  elongate, 
the  other,  close  to  the  posterior  angle,  very  short  and  less  deeply 
impressed.  Elytra  twice  the  length  of  the  thorax  and  a  little 
broader,  convex,  of  oval  form,  strongly  striated,  the  interstices 
broad  and  moderately  convex,  the  stria  nearest  to  the  lateral 
margin  very  lightly  impressed,  but  with  deep  punctures  along  it 
near  the  shoulder  and  towards  the  apex. 

Long.  8  lin.,  lat.  3  lin. 

Like  T.  onelas  Casteln.  but  proportionately  shorter  in  the 
elytra. 

PCECILUS    L^VIS. 

Black,  nitid,  antennas,  palpi  and  legs  piceous.  Head  with  the 
frontal  impressions  moderate.  Thorax  broader  than  the  head, 
rather  flat,  anterior  angles  rather  rounded,  sides  a  little  rounded 
behind  the  anterior  angles,  and  very  slightly  emarginate  towards 
the  base,  which  is  truncate  and  rather  broader  than  the  apex  ;  the 
posterior  angles  are  rectangular,  the  median  line  is  distinct  and  there 
are  two  impressions  on  each  side  at  the  base,  one  elongate,  the 
other  near  the  angle  circular.  Elytra  broader  than  the  thorax  and 
three  times  the  length,  very  slightly  convex  and  almost  smooth  ; 
one  very  slight  stria  may  be  traced  on  each  side  of  the  suture^  the 
others  are  almost  if  not  quite  undistinguishable,  excepting  the  two 
nearest  to  the  lateral  margin,  which  are  distinct  and  strongly 
punctured ;  on  the  base  on  each  side  of  the  scntellum  there  is  a 
broad  depression. 

Long.  9  lin.,  lat.  3  lin. 

I  have  a  specimen  of  this  species  in  my  collection  from  Port 
Darwin. 


BY  WILLIAM   MACLEAY,  F.L.S.,  &C.  415 

Fam.     MELOLONTHID^. 

DiPHUCEPHALA  HIRTIPENNIS. 

Most  resembles  B.  pilistriaia. 

Metallic  green,  the  antennae,  palpi  and  legs  reddish.  Head 
densely  punctured,  clypeus  broad,  the  angles  in  the  male  sharp, 
prominent,  and  recurved.  Thorax  punctured,  broadest  at  the 
base  and  clothed  with  short  ashen  pubescence,  the  median  and 
lateral  fovese  are  broad  and  deep  and  join  in  the  centre  of  the  disc  ; 
a  tooth  at  the  lateral  extremity  of  the  lateral  fovese.  Scufcellum 
rounded  behind  without  pubescence. 

Elytra  punctate,  clothed  with  a  short  ashen  pubescence  disposed 
in  longitudinal  rows.  The  abdominal  segments  are  similarly 
clothed.     The  anterior  tibiae  are  bidentated  externally  at  the  apex. 


Long.  3  J  lin. 


DiPHUCEPHALA    CCERULEA. 


Blue,,  nitid,  with  a  purplish  hue  on  the  elytra.  Head  small, 
punctate,  the  clypeus  terminating  on  each  side  in  a  prominent 
sub-obtuse  recurved  point.  Thorax  thinly  punctate  with  the 
median  line  narrow  and  the  lateral  foveee  small.  Elytra  coarsely 
punctate,  with  three  almost  obliterated  costse  on  each.  Under 
surface  densely  clothed  with  short  cinereous  pubescence.  Anterior 
tibiae  bidentated  externally. 

Long.  3^  lin. 

DiPHUCEPHALA   LATIPENNIS. 

Metallic-green,  nitid,  more  or  less  clothed  all  over  with  an  ashen 
pubescence.  Head  not  broad,  punctate,  with  the  clypeus  pro- 
foundly emarginate,  and  the  angles  prominent,  rounded  and 
reflexed.  Thorax  coarsely  punctate,  the  median  line  broad,  and 
the  lateral  fovese  large,  but  not  joining  in  the  middle  of  the  disc. 
Scutellum  large,  triangular,  smooth,  and  impressed  in  the  middle. 

Elytra  broad,  and  coarsely  punctured  in  crowded  rows.  Pygi- 
dium  densely  pubescent.     Anterior  tibiae  unarmed. 

Long.  3  lin. 


416  NOTES  AND  EXHIBITS. 

LiPARETRUS  CONVEXIUSCULUS. 

Kufous,  subnifcid.  Head  black,  densely  punctate,  slightly 
emarginate  on  the  clypeal  suture  ;  the  clypeus  broad,  rounded  at 
the  angles,  reflexed  and  nearly  truncate  in  front.  Thorax  punctate, 
much  broader  than  long,  somewhat  lobate  at  the  base  with  the 
median  line  scarcely  visible.  Elytra  convex,  not  covering  the 
penultimate  segment  of  the  abdomen,  irregularly  punctate  in  rows, 
with  a  distinct  stria  on  each  side  of  the  sutural  costa.  Pygidium 
and  penultimate  segment  of  abdomen  minutely  punctate  and  naked 
above.  Under  surface  of  body  clothed  with  yellow  hair.  Anterior 
tibise  tridentate. 

Long.  4  lin. 

Nearest  to  L.  atriceps  mihi,  but  a  very  different  insect. 


NOTES   AND   EXHIBITS. 

Baron  Maclay  exhibited  a  sketch  of  a  new  species  of 
Heterodontus,  recently  received  at  the  Australian  Museum  from 
Japan,  and  pointed  out  the  marked  differences  between  it  and 
Meterodontus  Phillippi,  the  species  with  which  the  Japan  Fish  had 
hitherto  been  confounded.  He  suggested  for  it  the  specific  name 
of  jap)onicus,  and  said  that  he  would  give  a  detailed  description  of 
it  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  Society. 

Mr.  Macleay  exhibited  in  illustration  of  Mr.  De  Vis's  Paper,  casts 
of  a  gigantic  humerus  of  a  Diprotodon,  and  a  smaller  humerus, 
probably  of  Nototlierium.  The  fossils  were  both  from  Darling 
Downs. 

Mr.  Thomas  Whitelegge  exhibited  under  the  microscope  a  living 
specimen  of  the  species  of  Fredericellaj  one  of  the  fresh  water 
Bryozoa  which  had  not  previously  been  noticed  in  New  South 
Wales.  It  appeared  to  be  identical  with  the  European  F. 
sultana,  of  Blumenbach, 


NOTES   AND    EXHIBITS.  417 

Mr.  Whittell  exhibited  specimens  of  a  caterpillar  o£  the  family 
Cossidce  found  at  Mount  Wingen,  in  which  the  original  tissues 
of  the  animal  had  become  replaced  by  tlie  mycelium  of  a  species 
of  Sphoeria. 

Mr.  Littlejohn  exhibited  a  large  specimen  of  Gastrotokeiis 
hiaculeatus  from  Torres  Straits. 

JJr.  Cox  exhibited  a  large  nodule  of  ironstone  with  a  remark- 
ably polished  surface,  and  stated  that  large  numbers  of  similar 
appearance  were  observed  scattered  over  the  surface  of  the 
ground  in  the  Liverpool  Plains  district.  They  seemed  to  be  hard 
concretionary  nodules  freed  by  the  weathering  away  of  the  softer 
rock  matrix  in  which  they  had  been  originally  enclosed. 

Dr.  Cox  also  exhibited  a  remarkable  blenny  of  the  genus 
Cristiceps  from  Broken  Bay. 


PLS.,  Vol.8 


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FOSSIL     CALVARIA 
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WEDNESDAY,  OCTOBER  31st,  1883. 


The  President,  C.  S.  Wilkinson,  Esq.,  E.G. S.,  F.L.S.,  Government 
Geolosjist,  in  the  chair. 


MEMBERS    ELECTED. 

Kenneth  .R.  Stuart,  Esq.,  of  Sydney,  and  F.  W.  Hawkins,  Esq., 
L.S.,  Mines  Department. 

DONATIONS. 

"  Plagiostomata  of  the  Pacific."  By  N.  de  M.  Maclay  and 
William  Macleay.     Part  i.,  with  plates.     From  Baron  Maclay. 

"  Mittheilungen  aus  der  Zoologischen  Station  zu  Neapel." 
lY.  Band,  8  Heft,  1883. 

"  Micrographic  Dictionary."  Griffith  and  Henfrey's  4th  edition, 
1883.     From  the  Hon.  William  Macleay. 

"  Proceedings  of  the  Zoological  Society  of  London."  Part  2,  for 
1883.     From  the  Society. 

"  Acta  Societatis  Scientiarum  FennicoD  "  Tomus  xii.,  1883. 
''Bidrag  till  Kiinnedom  af  Finlands  ISTatur  och  Folk."  37th 
and  38th  Parts.  1882.  "  Ofversigt  af  Finska  Yetenskaps-Socie- 
tetens  Forhandlingar.  xxiv.,  1881-1882.  From  the  Boyal  Society 
of  Sciences  of  Finland. 

"  Feuille  des  Jeunes  Natnralistes."  No.  155,  September,  1883. 
From  the  Editor. 

'*  Bulletin  of  the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology  at  Harvard 
College."     Yol.  vii.,  Nos.  9  &  10.     Yol.  xi.      Parts  1  &  2.     From 
the  Museum, 
a4 


420  DONATIONS. 

"  Catalogue  of  a  Collection  of  Fossils  in  the  Australian 
Museum,"  1883,  and  "Guide  to  the  Contents,  &c."  From  the 
Trustees. 

A  large  and  valuable  Collection  of  Works  on  Natural  History. 
Presented  by  Dr.  James  C.  Cox,  F.L.S. 

"Briti.<=:h  Marine  Conchology,"  By  Charles  Thorpe,  1844. 
From  J.  F.  Bailey,  Esq.,  of  Melbourne. 

"Descriptions  of  Five  New  Species  of  Shells."  By  G.  B. 
Sowerby,  Junr.  "  Official  Catalogues  of  the  Victoria  and  New 
Zealand  Courts  of  the  Sydney  International  Exhibition,  1879." 
"African  Birds."  Two  Volumes.  By  W.  Swainson,  F.L.S. , 
"Voyager's  Companion  or  Shell  Collectors'  Pilot,"  By  J.  Mawe, 
1825.  "  Epitome  of  Lamarck's  Arrangement  of  Testacea."  By 
Charles  Dubois,  F.L.S.,  1828.  Introductory  and  Advanced  Text 
Books  of  Zoology.  ^Slicholson.  Two  Volumes,  1870  &  1871.  From 
John  Brazier,  Esq.,  C.M.Z.S. 

"Journal  of  the  Royal  Microscopical  Society  of  London." 
August  1883.     Vol.  HI.     Part  4,     From  the  Society. 

"Science."  Vol.  ii.  Nos.  29  to  31.  Aug.  24th  to  Sept.  7th, 
1883.     From  the  Editor. 

"  Announcement  of  the  Wagner  Free  Institute  of  Science,  for 
the  Collegiate  Year,  1883."     From  Mr.  William  Wagner 

"  Aperyu  sur  la  Th^orie  de  1'  evolution.  Par  le  Dr.  Ladislau 
Netto,  Directeur  General  du  Museum  National  de  Bio  de 
Janeiro."     From  the  Author. 

"  Fossil  Chilostomatous  Bryozoa  from  Muddy  Creek,  Victoria." 
By  Arthur  Wm.  Waters,  F.G.S.     From  the  Author. 

"  On  the  Caves  perforating  Marble  deposits,  Limestone 
Creek."     By  James  Stirling,  Esq.,  F.G.S.     From  the  Author. 

"  Cultural  Industries  for  Queensland."  First  Series.  By 
Lewis  Adolphus  Bernays,  Esq.,  F.L.S.     From  the  Author. 

Annual  Report  of  the  South  Australian  Institute  for  1882-3  " 
From  the  Secretary. 


papers  read. 

Occasional  ISTotes  on  Plants   Indigenous    in    the    immediate 

Neighbourhood  of  Sydney.     No.  5. 

By  E.  Haviland. 

This  paper  consists  of  a  few  notes  on  Myrsine  variabilis ;  a 
tree  belonging  to  the  order  Myrsinace^e.  I  am  indebted  to  our 
friend,  Mr.  Deane,  for  all  the  specimens  of  the  flowers  and  fruit  of 
the  plant  that  I  have  examined  ;  for  although  I  visited  the  locality 
with  him,  we  could  not  at  the  time,  find  any  tree,  bearing  flowers. 

Of  the  genus  Myrsine;  Bentham,  writing  in  1869,  gives  but 
four  species,  but  Yon  Mueller  in  his  census  of  Australian  plants, 
just  published,  enumerates  six  species  ;  of  which,  three  are  peculiar 
to  Queensland ;  one  common  to  Queensland  and  New  South 
Wales  ;  one  to  Tasmania  and  New  South  Wales  ;  and  one  peculiar 
to  New  South  Wales. 

Myrsine  variabilis,  in  favorable  localities,  is  a  tree  attaining  a 
height  of  30  to  40  feet.  Its  flowers  are  very  small,  certainly  not 
exceeding  one  or  one  and  a-half  lines  in  diameter ;  and  grow  in 
small  clusters  in  the  axils  and  internodes  of  the  leaves.  I  do  not 
know  to  which  of  its  peculiarities  R.  Brown  referred,  when  in  the 
year  1810  he  gave  it  its  specific  name ;  but  certainly  none  could 
be  more  appropriate.  Indeed  it  varies  so  much,  that  I  have 
found,  from  the  same  tree,  flowers  with  five  lobes  to  the  corolla 
and  five  to  the  calyx  ;  some  with  four  lobes  to  each ;  some  with 
five  to  the  corolla  and  four  to  the  calyx  ;  and  others  with  four  to 
the  corolla  and  five  to  the  calyx  ;  but  in  every  case,  the  number  of 
stamens  has  been  the  same  as  that  of  the  lobes  of  the  corolla. 
Again,  I  have  found  flowers  with  perfect  ovaries  and  ovules,  and 
with  anthers  full  of  pollen ;  and  from  the  same  plant,  others 
without  ovules,  with  stamens  and  fully  developed  anthers,  but 
entirely  without  pollen. 

It  was  while  examining  the  flower  in  the  endeavour  to  identify 
it,  that  my  attention  was  directed  to  its  peculiar  construction. 
The  corolla,  which,  as  I  have  said,  is  not  more  than  one  line  or  one 


422        NOTES  ON  PLANTS  INDIGENOUS  TO  SYDNEY, 

and  a-lialf  lines  in  diameter,  is  nearly  or  quite  globular  ;  and,  so  far 
as  I  have  seen,  always  closed.  The  lobes,  although  divided  to  fully 
two-thirds  of  their  whole  length,  keep  so  closely  together,  as  to 
give  the  flower  the  appearance  of  a  minate  ball  that  has  been  cut 
in  diflferent  directions  across  the  top,  but  without  causing  the 
parts  to  gape  or  separate.  If  the  corolla  is  taken  off'  one  of  the 
most  perfect  flowers,  slit  open,  and  pinned,  with  insect  pins,  to  a 
flat  piece  of  cork,  it  can  not  only  be  examined  and  studied,  with 
the  stamens,  anthers  and  pollen  together ;  but  it  can  be  readily 
transferred  to  the  stage  of  the  microscope.  It  will  be  found  to 
have  five  broadly  acute  lobes,  thick,  fleshy,  and  very  concave ;  and 
having  the  stamens,  which  rise  from  the  base,  closely  adnate  with 
the  lobes,  nearly  their  whole  length  ;  bearing  the  anthers  deep  in 
the  concavities,  but  sufficiently  high  on  the  lobes  to  be  brought, 
owing  to  their  dome  shape,  exactly  over  the  stigma.  The  anthers 
are  very  large  as  compared  with  the  rest  of  the  flower,  and 
peculiarly  shaped,  very  broad  at  the  base  and  tapering  to  a  point 
at  the  apex.  In  fact,  I  cannot  help  comparing  them  to  a  chemist's 
precipitating  glass,  on  a  small  scale.  Owing  to  this  peculiar  form, 
the  pollen,  which  is  very  dry  and  loose  when  fully  ripe,  falls 
without  being  impeded  by  the  walls  of  the  anther;  and  this  is 
facilitated  by  the  anther  opening,  not  only  in  a  longitudinal  slit, 
but  across  the  base,  and  gaping  widely,  so  that  it  becomes  quite 
empty  at  once.  The  style  is  very  short,  so  that  the  stigma  is 
almost  sessile.  Here  too  a  great  variation  occurs.  In  those 
flowers  which  had  imperfect  ovaries,  and  no  ovules,  I  have  found 
the  style  solid  throughout ;  but  in  the  perfect  flowers,  having 
ovules,  it  appears  to  be  simply  a  short  hollow  tube,  with  the 
stigma,  marginal.  In  fact,  the  ovary  and  style  may  aptly  be 
compared  with  a  globular  shaped  bottle,  having  a  short,  wide,  open 
neck,  in  which  case  the  stigma  will  answer  for  the  rim  or  tip  of  the 
neck.  In  several  cases  I  could,  with  a  low  power,  see  through  the 
open  tubular  style,  down  into  the  ovary.  I  have  found  the  tube 
partly  filled  with  pollen,  and  I  have  also  found  pollen  in  the 
ovary,  which  must  have  fallen  from  the  anthers  directly  through 
the  tubular    style.      For,    sometimes  I  thought  it  just  possible, 


BY    E.   HAVILAND.  423 

that  the  fovilla  might  be  discharged  by  the  pollen  grains  directly 
upon  the  foramen  of  the  ovule,  as  occurs  in  a  genus  of  not  very 
dissimilar  construction,  in  the  Gymospermous  order  Gnetaceae, 
but  subsequent  examination  proved  that  this  could  not  be  so. 
Measuring,  in  four  or  five  flowers,  the  diameter  of  the  tube  of  the 
style  by  the  micrometer  eye  piece,  I  found  it  to  be  ^,%q  of  an  inch, 
while  the  jDollen  grains  were  less  than  ^^^  So  that  the  tube  is 
more  than  four  times  the  diameter  of  the  grains  of  pollen  which 
have  to  pass  through  it.  In  some  flowers,  however,  I  found  the 
wall  of  the  tube  thick  and  the  passage  very  much  smaller.  The 
placenta  is  not,  as  in  many  flowers,  a  mere  point  of  attachment  of 
the  ovules  to  the  ovary,  but  is  large,  fleshy,  and  globular,  nearly 
filling  the  ovary.  It  is  quite  free,  except  its  connection  at  the 
base  j  and  the  ovules  are  embedded  in, it.  It  is  owing  to  this,  that 
the  ovules  cannot  be  fertilised  by  the  direct  action  of  the  pollen 
grains,  as  I  at  first  thought  possible,  but  require  the  intervention 
of  pollen  tubes.  The  substance  of  the  placenta,  however,  is  very 
spongy  and  open,  so  that  the  pollen  tubes  can  easily  penetrate  it. 
In  a  section  of  the  nearly  mature  fruit,  I  have  rarely  found  more 
than  one  seed  perfect,  but  small  depressions  can  be  seen  in  the 
mass  of  the  placenta  filled  with  the  dehris  of  the  ovules  that  have 
not  been  fertilised.  I  have  been  asked  once  or  twice,  by  young 
botanists,  how  it  occurs,  that  plants  having  many  ovules,  frequently 
produce  but  two  or  three  seeds.  I  think  a  transverse  section  of 
the  fruit  of  this  plant  under  a  low  miscroscopic  power,  would  be 
the  best  answer  that  could  be  given  to  such  an  enquiry. 

The  proportion  of  perfect  and  imperfect  flowers  upon  any  plant 
of  this  species  of  Myrsine  I  should  think  nearly  equal.  In  the 
first  supply  I  received  from  Mr.  Deane,  I  found  all  perfect,  the 
ovaries  containing  ovules,  the  anthers  full  of  pollen,  except  in  cases 
where  they  had  matured  and  opened ;  and  in  most  the  style  a 
short  open  tube.  I  am  inclined  to  think,  that  the  opening  of  the 
style  increases  as  the  pollen  ripens  ;  so  that  when  it  is  fully  ripe, 
the  style  is  fully  open  to  receive  it  ;  but  I  merely  suggest  this,  I 
am  not  at  all  sure  of  it.  In  the  second  supply  of  flowers,  from  the 
same  tree,  I  found  every  one  imperfect.      Ovaries  without  ovules, 


424       NOTES  ON  PLANTS  INDIGENOUS  TO  SYDNEY, 

and  the  placenta  rudimentary  only  ;  stamens,  with  anthers  fully 
developed,  but  without  pollen  ;  and  the  style,  not  a  tube,  but  solid. 
The  genus  is  said  to  be,  to  some  extent,  Polygamous,  and  I  have 
no  doubt  it  is,  but  in  the  specimens  that  I  have  examined,  I 
have  found  no  unisexual  flowers,  nor  even  the  state  of  some 
Lobelias,  which,  one  flower  having  a  perfect  pistil  with  imperfect 
stamens,  while  another  has  perfect  stamens  with  an  imperfect 
pistil,  are  virtually  unisexual.  In  this  plant,  however,  all  the 
flowers  that  I  have  found  imperfect,  have  been  so  entirely,  so  far 
as  fertilisation  is  concerned  ;  for  although  the  ovary  has  externally 
been  of  the  usual  form,  it  has  contained  no  ovules,  and  though  the 
stamens  have  borne  fully  developed  anthers,  they  have  been  void 
of  pollen. 

In  every  jDart  of  the  flower,  corolla,  calyx,  ovary,  and  even  far 
down  the  pedicel,  there  are  embedded  in  its  substance,  peculiar 
granular  masses  of  a  red  colour,  and  varying  in  size  from  2^^^  to  5^^  of 
an  inch.  In  the  ovary  they  form  a  circle  embedded  in  its  walls, 
and  even  with  the  assistance  of  an  ordinary  pocket  lens,  any  one, 
not  on  his  guard,  may  be  misled  into  the  belief  that  they  are 
ovules.  An  inspection  with  the  microscope,  however,  soon 
convinces  one  to  the  contrary.  Although  so  embedded  in  the 
substance  of  the  flower,  they  can  be  picked  out  separately  with  a 
fine  needle,  leaving  a  clean  cell-like  impression  behind. 

In  my  former  papers  I  have  expressed  my  belief  that,  as  a  rule, 
flowers  are  cross-fertilised,  either  from  others  on  the  same  plant,  or 
more  remotely,  from  those  of  a  separate  plant.  Myrsine  variabilis  is, 
no  doubt,  one  of  the  exceptions  to  that  rule.  With  the  corolla  so 
closed  as  to  prevent  any  pollen  bearing  insect  having  access  to  the 
stigma  (and  that  not  for  a  time  only,  but  certainly  till  after  the 
work  of  fertilisation  has  been  completed),  and  with  the  anthers 
opening  directly  over  the  stigma,  or  mouth  of  the  tubular  style, 
and  the  apparently  easy  access  of  the  pollen  to  the  ovary,  I  think 
there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  plant  is  self-fertilised. 

Taking  the  word  in  its  simple  botanical  sense,  as  applied  to  plants 
closely  fertilised  in  unopened  blossoms,  then  this  plant  Myrsine 
variabilis  may  be  considered  as  Cleistogamous.     I  am  not,  however, 


BY    E.   HAVILAND.  425 

at  all  prepared  to  say,  that  the  whole  of  this  species  or  even  any 
individual  plant  of  the  species  is  entirely  so.  It  is  a  very  rare 
tiling  for  a  plant  to  bear  cleistogamous  flowers  only.  There  are 
generally  some  few  opening  and  exposing  themselves  to  cross- 
fertilisation  in  the  usual  way,  as  though  nature  in  any  case  were 
loth  to  depend  entirely  on  self-fertilisation. 


Temperature  of  the  body  of  Echidna  Hystrix  Cuv. 
By  N".  de  Miklouho  Maclay. 

During  my  stay  in  Brisbane  in  July  1879,  I  had  an  opportunity 
of  getting  two  Echidna  hystrix  for  the  study  of  the  brain.  I 
kept  them  for  several  weeks  before  I  had  time  to  begin  the 
anatomical  dissection,  and  they  enjoyed  the  most  perfect  health, 
appearing  very  sleepy  during  the  day,  but  more  active  during  the 
night,  and  leaving  a  soup  plate  of  milk  thickened  with  some 
flour  quite  empty  in  the  mornings.  Being  at  last  ready  to  examine 
the  brain  of  one  of  them,  and  before  injecting  a  dose  of  hydr. 
chlor.,  I  took  the  opportunity  of  observing  the  temperature  of  the 
body  of  the  animal.  A  very  sensitive  thermometer,  placed  in  the 
cloaca,  after  lying  there  undisturbed  for  ten  minutes  showed  the 
temperature  of  28°  3  C.  (about  83o  F.) 

Believing  that  the  large  opening  of  the  cloaca  had  interfered 
with  the  correctness  of  the  observations,  I  made  a  small  incision 
just  large  enough  to  introduce  the  oblong  ball  of  the  thermometer 
into  the  cavity  of  the  abdomen.  The  thermometer  was  left  there 
over  ten  minutes  and  showed  a  temperature  of  30^  0  C.  {fi^'^  0  F.) 

Not  satisfied  with  this  observation,  and  finding  that  the 
observed  temperature  of  the  Echidna  is  much  below  the  known 
average  temperature  of  the  body  of  Mammalia,  I  repeated  the 
observation  on  the  other  specimen.  The  second  observation  was 
made  the  9th  July.  The  temperature  of  the  air  that  day  was 
20°  0  C.  (68°  0  F.)  I  made  again  a  small  incision,  and  observed 
the  temperature,    in  this  incision  and  in  the  abdominal  cavity. 


426  PLAGIOSTOMATA    OF    THE    PACIFIC, 

I  found  the  temperature  (the  thermometer  lying  in  the  cavity 
for  over  ten  minutes)  26^  95  C.  (about  80°  F.)  To  be 
quite  sure,  and  to  prevent  any  mistakes,  I  introduced  again  the 
thermometer  into  the  abdominal  cavity  in  half  an-hour's  time,  and 
let  it  remain  there  for  over  fifteen  minutes. 

The  very  sensitive  thermometer  (made  for  observation  of 
temperature  of  the  human  body  on  the  sickbed)  showed  again 
the  temperature  of  26"  65  C.  (about  79^  F.)  Wishing  to  be  quite 
sure  about  the  observations,  I  induced  Mr.  R.  T.  Steiger,  the 
Government  Analytical  Chemist  in  Brisbane,  to  place  his  ther- 
mometer in  the  cavity,  and  we  obtained  there  with  this  other 
thermometer  a  temperature  of  78°  F.,  (or  25''  5  C),  which  result 
agreed  very  nearly  with  the  previous  observations. 

Taking  the  average  of  these  three  observations,  we  find  the 
mean  temperature  of  the  body  of  the  Echidna  hystrix  to  be  about 
28°  C.  (or,  82°  4  F.) 

Comparing  the  same  with  the  mean  temperature  of  Mammalia, 
which  is,  after  Dr.  J.  Davy's  observations  of  thirty-one  different 
species,  38°  4  C,  or  101°  10  F.,  we  find  that  the  mean  temper- 
ature of  the  Echidna  is  about  10°  C,  or  19°  F.,  lower  than  the 
former. 

I  have  to  add  that  in  the  month  of  July  the  Echidnas  appeared 
to  be  in  a  very  sleepy  state,  moving  about  in  the  day  time  only 
when  disturbed.  It  is  possible  that  during  the  Avinter  months  the 
Echidna  is  subject  to  a  state  of  hibernation,  which  may  also  to  a 
certain  extent  depress  the  usual  temperature  of  the  body. 


Plagiostomata  of  the  Pacific. 

By  N.  de  Miklouho  Maclay  and  William  Macleay.     Part  2. 

Plate  xx. 

It  is  now  exactly  five  years  since  we  read  a  Paper  with  the  above 
heading  at  a  meeting  of  this  Society,  and  which  was  published  in 
the  third  volume  of  our  Proceedings. 


BY  N.  DE  MIKLOUHO-MACLAY  AND  WILLIAM  MACLEAY,  F.L.S.       427 

At  that  time  we  contemplated,  as  indeed  the  title  of  our  Paper 
indicated,  a  succession  of  Papers  descriptive  and  illustrative  of  all 
the  Plagiostomatous  Fishes,  known  to  inhabit  the  Pacific  Ocean. 
A  lengthened  absence  from  the  country  on  the  part  of  one  of  us, 
has  prevented  the  fulfilment  of  our  intentions  with  the  regularity 
which  we  contemplated.  We  now  resume  our  task,  but  only  at 
present  to  deal  with  what  may  be  regarded  as  matter  supplementary 
to  our  first  Paper. 

A  few  weeks  ago  the  Australian  Museum  received  among  a 
collection  of  Fishes  from  Japan,  a  specimen  of  the  Heterodontus  of 
those  seas,  a  fish  which  from  its  first  discovery  has  been  accepted 
by  naturalists  almost  without  exception  as  identical  with  H. 
Fhillip'pi — the  Port  Jackson  Shark.  We  were  led  to  suspect  when 
writing  our  former  Paper,  that  the  Japanese  species  was  distinct, 
and  that  possibly  the  same  might  be  the  case  with  the  species  found 
by  Dr.  Bleeker  in  the  East  Indian  Archipelago,  and  we  stated  some 
reasons  for  our  belief  (Proc.  Lin.  Soc,  N.  S.  W.,  Vol.  3,  p.  313), 
but  authors  were  evidently  puzzled  on  the  subject,  and  the 
confusion  had  become  so  universal,  that  until  now,  when  we  have 
the  fish  actually  before  us,  we  Avere  unable  to  pronounce  with  any 
certainty  as  to  the  distinctness  of  the  species.  We  have  no  longer 
any  doubt  on  the  subject,  the  species,  though  somewhat  resembling 
H.  Fhillippi,  is  most  distinct  in  its  marking,  which  in  H. 
Phillippi  is  very  constant,  in  its  dentition  and  various  other  less 
important  particulars.  To  give  some  idea  of  the  confusion 
that  exists  among  authors  respecting  the  Fishes  of  this  genus 
w^e  may  mention  that  the  figure  (a  very  bad  one)  of  Gestracion 
Fhillippi  in  the  "  Voy.  of  the  Coquille,  PI.  2,"  is  not  the  Port 
Jackson  fish,  that  Muller  and  Henle's  figure  (Plate  31),  is  most 
likely  the  Japanese  species,  the  number  of  vertical  bands  being 
identical,  that  the  tooth  given  in  the  same  plate  as  that  of  Phillipin 
is  certainly  not  of  either  species,  and  that  Schlegel  in  the 
Fauna  Japonica  describes  the  Japanese  fish  as  Gestracion 
Phillijjj^i.  It  is  very  probable  that  the  Gestracion  Zebra  of 
Gray  and  Hichardson,  and  Heterodontus  Zebra  of  other  authors, 
were  properly   described  as  distinct  species,   and  were  really  the 


428  PLAGIOSTOMATA    OF    THE    PACIFIC, 

Japanese  fish,  but  as  these  names  have  been  long  looked  upon  only 
as  synonyms,  and  as  we  have  not  access  to  the  books  in  which  they 
were  originally  described,  we  have  deemed  it  best  to  remove  all 
future  doubts,  by  giving  the  present  species  the  distinctive  name 
of  Japonicus. 

Heterodontus  Japonicus.     Mel. 

In  form  much  resembling  H.  Phillippi.  Supraorbital  ridges, 
strong,  with  large  dark  scutella,  and  a  little  emarginate  over  the 
eye,  terminating  a  little  behind  the  eye  and  continued  in  front 
towards  the  snout,  leaving  a  large  flat  depressed  space  between 
the  ridges. 

The  snout  is  very  bluntly  rounded.  The  mouth  differs  from 
that  of  H.  FhiUip2n  in  having  the  inner  nasal  fold  less  long,  the 
fold  of  the  upper  lip  rounder  and  shorter,  and  the  inferior  margin 
of  the  fold  of  the  lower  lip  covered  with  soft  skin  with  only  very 
few  scutella. 

The  teetli  are  in  23  vertical  rows  in  both  jaws,  the  7  middle 
rows  of  the  upper  jaw  consist  of  5  cuspid  teeth,  of  which  the 
three  middle  cusps  are  largest,  but  all  well  marked  and  distinct. 
The  number  of  teeth  in  the  central  row  is  8.  The  lateral  cuspid 
teeth  in  rows  7,  8,  16  and  17  (PI.  20,  fig.  4)  are  more  elongate,  and 
the  middle  cusps  are  less  distinct  than  in  the  teeth  of  the  more 
central  rows;  in  rows  6  and  18  the  united  cusps  take  the  form  of  a 
longitudinal  crest,  which  corresponds  with  the  longitudinal  line  on 
the  large  pavement  like  lateral  teeth  (rows  1-5  and  19-23). 

In  the  upper  jaw  there  are  in  most  cases  5  teeth  in  each  of  the 
vertical  rows  of  pavement  like  teeth.  Rows  3  and  21  show  the 
largest  teeth  in  the  upper  jaw,  whilst  in  the  lower,  rows  4  to  20 
show  the  largest.  The  number  of  the  rows  of  the  pavement  like 
teeth  are  different  in  the  two  jaws,  there  being  1 0  rows  (5  on  each 
side)  in  the  upper,  and  12  rows  (6  on  each  side)  in  the  lower  jaw. 

All  the  teeth  of  the  middle  rows  of  the  lower  jaw  are  alike  in 
shape,  those  of  the  upper  jaw  (rows  8  and  17)  vary  considerably, 
the  lateral  teeth  being  different  from  those  of  the  central  rows. 


BY  N.   DE  MIKLOUHO-MACLAY  AND  WILLIAM  MACLEAY,  F.L.S.       429 

We  may  rej^eat,  however,  what  we  noticed  in  our  description  of 
H.  Phillip2)i  in  our  former  Paper  that  the  teeth  vary  much  in 
form,  size,  and  numbers,  according  to  the  age  and  size,  and  perhaps 
sex  of  the  individual. 

The  spiracles  are  distinct,  larger  than  in  H.  Phillippi,  and  placed 
a  little  under  the  eye,  and  in  a  vertical  line  distinctly  behind  the 
eye.  The  lateral  line  is  straight  and  continuous  from  the  supra- 
orbital ridges.  The  first  dorsal  fin  is  high  and  falciform,  the 
height  is  exactly  twice  the  length  of  the  portion  of  the  base 
attached  to  the  back,  the  spine  is  slight  and  acute  and  half  the 
length  of  the  fin.  The  second  dorsal  is  shaped  like,  but  less  in 
height  than,  the  first,  and  its  base  of  attachment  to  the  back  is  about 
the  same ;  the  distance  between  the  two  dorsals  is  equal  to  that 
between  the  second  dorsal  and  the  commencement  of  the  caudal 
fin,  and  to  that  between  the  first  dorsal  and  the  eye.  The  pectorals 
are  large  and  triangular,  and  about  equal  in  length  to  the  caudal. 
The  ventrals  are  situated  in  a  line  intermediate  between  the  two 
dorsals,  the  anal  commences  distinctly  behind  the  second  dorsal, 
and  does  not  nearly  reach  the  caudal.  The  lower  lobe  of  the 
caudal  is  very  deeply  and  less  than  rectangularly  notched. 

The  coloration  and  markings  are  not  by  any  means  distinct,  the 
specimen  having  evidently  been  long  in  spirits,  but  the  remains 
of  numerous  dark  brown  bars  across  the  back  present  a  very 
difi"erent  style  of  marking  from  the  other  known  species  of 
the  genus.  The  best  description  of  this  Fish  is  to  be  found 
in  Perry's  United  States  Exped.  to  Japan  (Vol.  2  p.  285  PL 
13  fig.  2),  in  which  Brevoort  describes  a  young  specimen  of  8 
inches  in  length.  We  quote  his  description,  because  it  is  probably 
the  only  instance  of  a  description  taken  of  this  species  from  a  fresh 
specimen.  It  must  be  noted  however,  that  it  was  little  more  than 
an  embryo.  "  Its  general  colour  is  of  a  pale  sepia-like  brown, 
darker  on  the  back  and  fins,  with  a  pinkish  tinge  on  lower  parts 
of  the  body.  Irregular  bands  and  large  blotches  of  several  shades 
of  the  same  brown  are  distributed  from  the  pectorals  to  the  caudal, 
grouped  in  five  principal  bands  with  smaller  ones  near  the  back, 
between  the  first  three  large  ones ;  the  first  of  these  is  just  back  of 


430  PLAGIOSTOMATA    OF    THE    PACIFIC, 

the  pectorals,  the  second  back  of  the  first  dorsal,  and  in  front  of 
the  ventrals,  spreading  laterally  near  the  abdomen.  The  snout 
and  cheeks  are  shaded  also  with  darker  brown  cloudings.  Small 
pale  brown  dots  besides  the  above  cover  the- back  of  the  head  and 
body;  and  about  one-half  of  the  pectorals,  dorsals,  and  caudal 
ventrals,  anal  and  lower  lobe  of  dorsal  of  a  more  uniform  brown. 

"Sa-siwari"  of  the  Japanese,  common  in  Spring  and  Autumn, 
and  much  sought  after  for  food," 

The  specimen  which  we  have  now  figured  and  described,  is  a 
female  of  16  inch  in  length,  or  about  half  grown.  In  marking  as 
we  have  previously  observed  it  is  distinct  from  all  its  congeners,  in 
general  aspect  it  much  resembles  M.  Philli2J2n,  the  species  with 
which  it  has  always  been  confounded,  but  in  its  dentition  it  comes 
nearest  to  H.  Francisi,  difi'ering  however  from  it  considerably  in 
the  5  cuspid  middle  teeth. 

The  number  of  known  species  of  Heterodontus  now  amounts  to 
five,  distributed  as  follows  : — 

North  Pacific  Ocean,  East  or  American  side,  Heterodwitus 
Ffxmcisij  San  Francisco.  West  side,  China  and  Japan,  Hetero- 
dontus Ja^yonicus,  Japan.  South  Pacific  Ocean,  West  or  Australian 
side,  H.  Phillipjn  and  galeatus,  Sydney.  East  or  American  side, 
H.  Quoyi,  Galapagos  Islands. 

Dr.  Bleeker  seems  to  have  found  a  species  in  the  Indian  Ocean, 
which  he  at  once  set  down  as  H.  Fhillipin.  It  is  not  at  all 
improbable  however,  that  it  may  be  distinct,  or  that  it  is  identical 
with  the  Japanese  Fish  \  indeed  it  is  most  unlikely  to  be  H. 
Phillip2n^  a  species  which  seems  to  have  only  a  limited  range  in 
a  direction  N.  of  Sydney,  not  being  known  on  the  Queensland 
Coast,  while  it  extends  to  the  South  as  far  at  least  as  the  mouth 
of  the  Derwent  in  Tasmania. 

We  may  note  here  that  H. galeatus  Gunth.  regarded  when  we  last 
wrote  as  so  rare,  has  been  got  frequently  of  late  years,  its  rarity 
arising  probably  more  from  the  ignorance  and  want  of  observation  on 
the  part  of  the  fishermen,  than  the  actual  paucity  of  its  numbers. 
Echini  form  the  chief  food  of  this  species  and  probably  of  all  the 
genus,  the  strong  dorsal  spines  and  prominent  supraorbital  ridges 


BY  N.  DE  MIKLOUHO-MACLAY  AND   WILLIAM  MACLEAY,  F.L.S.         431 

enabling  them  to  force  their  way  under  rocks  and  stones  in  pursuit 
of  these  animals.  A  fine  specimen  of  U.  galeatus  in  the  Macleay 
Museum — a  strong  young  female  adult,  had  the  dorsal  spines  worn 
down  to  half  their  proper  length,  evidently  in  this  way,  and  its 
viscera  were  full  of  finely  triturated  Echinus  tests  indicating 
pretty  clearly  how  the  grinding  of  the  dorsal  spines  had  been 
efiected. 


Explanation  of  Plate  20. 

Heterodontus    Japonicus.     Mel. 

Fig.   1. — Profile  view  of  a  spirit  specimen  of  H.  Japonicus  in  the 
Australian  Museum,  Sydney ;  |  of  nat.  size,  the  specimen 
being  about  1 9  inches  long. 
Fig.   2. — View  of  the  same  animal  from  above,  also  §  of  nat.  size. 
Fig.   3. — Anterior  part  of  the  head  from  the  ventral   side,  to  show 
the  arrangements  of  the  nasal  groove,  the  labial  folds  and 
the  anterior  teeth. 
Fig.   4. — Diagrammatic  sketch  of  the  teeth  of  the  upper  (Fig.  4,  a.) 
and  the  lower   (Fig.    4,   b.)  jaws  of  H.  Japonicus  about  4 
times  the  nat.  size.     The  cyphers  indicate  the  vertical  rows 
of  teeth  to  illustrate  the  leferences  in  the  test, 
(The  jaws  not  having  been  taken  out,  the  drawing  of  the  teeth 
has  been  rather  difficult,  so  that   only  a  diagrammatic 
sketch  could  be  obtained.     The  spaces  beneath  the  front 
teeth  are  represented  a  little  larger  on  the  sketch  than  in 
nature,  but  it  is  done  on  purpose  to  show  more  distinctly 
the  cusps  of  the  teeth.) 
Fig.  5. — One  of  the  front   5    cuspid  teeth  of  the   middle   row, 
enlarged  about  5  times. 

Lettering  Followed  throughout  all  the  Figures. 
a. — Superior  oral  fold. 
h. — Inferior  oral  fold. 
?!.— External  orifice  of  the  nasal  groove. 
sp. — Spiracle. 


jSTotes  on  some  Reptiles  from  the  Herbert  River,  Queensland. 
By  William  Macleay,  F.L.S.,  &c. 
I  received  a  few  days  ago  from  jMr.  Archibald  Boyd  of  Ripple 
Creek,  Herbert  River,  an  earthenware  jar  containing  specimens  in 
spirits  of  several  species  of  bats,  muridge,  antechini,  lizards  and 
snakes.  A  very  cursory  glance  at  the  contents  of  the  jar  satisfied 
me  that  Mr.  Boyd  had  hit  upon  a  new  and  nntried  and  also  a  very 
prolific  field  for  the  Zoologist.  The  mammals  I  have  not  yet 
examined  in  detail,  but  I  believe  that  most  of  them  are  of 
undescribed  species.  Of  the  reptiles,  I  herewith  give  a  list.  Of 
Lizards  there  were  three  species. 

1.  Odatria  ocellata. 

A  species  of  wide  distribution  in  tropical  Queensland. 

2.  LlASIS  punctulata. 
Found  everywhere  throughout  Australia. 

3.  TiARis  BoYDii.  n.  sp. 
Of  a  reddish  brown  colour,  with  seven  or  eight  narrow  dark- 
brown  fascise  on  the  body,  and  similar  but  indistinct  fasciae  on  the 
tail  and  feet  ;  the  front  of  the  head  and  nape  is  greyish,  the  sides 
of  the  head  stone  blue,  the  gular  pouch  and  the  space  between  the 
tympanum  of  the  eye  yellow,  and  the  under  side  of  the  body 
greyish-yellow.  The  front  of  the  head  is  triangular  and 
shelving,  a  little  concave  except  above  the  orbits,  and  covered 
with  minute  roughly  keeled  scales ;  sides  of  the  head 
covered  with  small  non-imbricate  scales  or  tubercles,  very  small  on 
the  eyelids,  and  largest  below  the  mouth,  and  behind  the  ear 
expanding  into  a  few  ivory  looking  tubercles  of  larger  size.  The 
gular  pouch  is  covered  with  very  minute  pointed  scales,  with 
broad,  pointed,  compressed,  triangular  teeth  along  its  median  fold. 
On  the  nape,  there  is  a  large  comj)ressed  skinny  crest,  densely 
covered  with  very  small  smooth  scales,  and  armed  with  three  or 
four  erect,  broad,  pointed,  triangular,  very  compressed  bony  teeth. 
The  scales  of  the  back  and  sides  of  the  body  are  small  and  more  or 
less  keeled,  and  the  ridge  of  the  back  is  armed  from  the  nape  to 


REPTILES  FROM  THE  HERBERT  RIVER,  QUEENSLAND.  433 

well  dowD  the  tail,  with  acute,  very  much  compressed  triangular 
spines  ;  the  scales  of  the  legs  are  keeled  and  those  of  the  tail  very 
strongly  so ;  occasionally  bands  of  larger  keeled  scales  cross  the  tail 
at  irregular  intervals.  The  scales  of  the  belly  are  larger  and  more 
strongly  keeled  than  those  of  the  back. 

There  are  no  head  shields,  excepting  the  upper  and  lower 
rostrals,  and  a  long  low  series  of  upper  and  lower  labials. 

Length  of  head  and  body  6  inches,  length  of  tail  12  inches. 

In  every  other  species  of  Tiaris  I  have  seen,  the  dorsal  crest  is 
formed  of  erect  triangular  compressed  scales,  in  the  present  species 
the  armature  on  the  occipital  and  dorsal  ridges  is   distinctly  bony. 

The  Ophidians  of  the  collection  number  seven. 

1,  AcANOTHOPHis  ANTARCTICA  or  Death  Adder. 

This  snake  has  been  found  in  all  parts  of  Australia,  but  I  should 
say  that  the  East  Coast  of  New  South  Wales  is  its  most  common 
habitat. 

2.  MoRELiA  VARIEGATA.     The  Carpet  Snake  of  the  Colonists. 

It    is   found   in   all  parts  of  Australia,    but  is   certainly   least 
abundant  in  Eastern  New  South  Wales.     It  seems  to  take  the 
place    of  the  Diamond    Snake  {Morelia   spilota)   in   the  tropical 
Queensland  brushes  and  the  arid  deserts  of  Central  Australia. 
3.  Vermicella    annulata. 

A  venomous  snake,  but  little  deadly.  It  is  found  in  all 
parts  of  this  country. 

4.  Tropidonotus  picturatus. 

Only  a  small  and  injured  specimen,  which  may  probably  be 
another  species  of  the  genus. 

The  three  following  species  are  undoubtedly  new. 

5.  Tropidonotus    angusticeps.  n.  sp. 
Scales  in  fifteen  rows. 

Abdominal  plates 130 

Anal  plates  2 

Sub-caudals 40/40 

Total  length 28J  inches 

Length  of  tail 5  inches 


4^4  REPTILES  FROM  THE  HERBERT  RIVER,  QUEENSLAND, 

Scales  of  back  elongate,  ovate,  and  strongly  keeled.  Colour  black, 
with  the  belly  whitish,  but  much  clouded  with  black.  Head  very 
slightly  broader  than  the  neck,  iiat,  tapering  and  rounded  at  the 
muzzle  ;  the  body  is  cylindrical,  the  tail  rather  short.  The  rostral 
shield  is  large  and  rounded  behind ;  there  are  two  nasal  shields 
with  a  rather  small  nostril  between  them  ;  the  loreal  is  rather 
higher  than  long;  there  are  two  anterior  and  two  posterior  oculars; 
there  are  eight  upper  labials,  the  third,  fourth  and  fifth  abutting 
on  the  eye,  the  sixth  and  seventh  are  much  the  largest ;  the 
anterior  frontals  are  as  long  but  much  less  broaci  than  the  posterior, 
and  narrowed  a  little  in  front ;  the  vertical  is  broadest  and  a  little 
rounded  at  its  anterior  edge  or  base,  is  gradually  narrowed  behind, 
and  terminates  triangularly. 

For  the  next  species  I  am  compelled  to  create  a  new  genus,  and 
from  the  locality  in  which  it  was  found  I  propose  to  name  it 

Herbertophis. 

Body  round  and  moderately  thick,  with  flat  belly.  Tail  of 
moderate  length,  not  distinct  from  trunk,  tapering.  Head  some- 
what depressed,  rounded  in  front  and  considerably  wider  behind 
than  the  neck.  Rostral  shield  emarginate  in  front,  and  extending 
a  little  backwards  in  a  rounded  triangular  form  between  the 
anterior  frontals  ;  one  nasal  with  nostril  in  the  centre,  two  anterior 
and  two  posterior  oculars,  scales  smooth,  in  seventeen  I'ows,  sub- 
caudal  shields  two-rowed.     Teeth  short,  molar  like  and  rounded. 

This  genus  will  come  under  Gray's  family  or  group,  Coronellidae. 

6.  Herbertophis  plumbeus.     n.  sp. 

Scales  in  seventeen  rows. 

Abdominal  plates   219 

Anal  plate 1 

Sab-caudals 74/74 

Total  length  4  feet 

Length  of  tail  9J  inches 

Head    li  inch 

Of  an  uniform  nitid  leaden-black  colour  above,  a  pure  yellowish 
white  on  the  belly,  the  scales  on  the  sides  showing  white  edges  as 


BY  WILLIAM    MACLEAY,   F.L.S.  435 

they  ajiproacli  the  abdominal  plates,  vrhich  also  have  one  similar 
mark  on  each  side,  the  sub-caudals  are  uniformly  marked  with  a 
dark  basal  patch.  The  nostril  is  large  and  deep,  the  loreal  shield  is 
oblong,  lying  between  the  second  labial  and  the  posterior  frontal, 
the  lower  anterior  ocular  is  nearly  square,  and  lies  between  the 
upper  anterior  ocular  and  the  third  labial,  there  are  nine  upper 
labials,  the  fourth,  fifth  and  an  acute  angle  of  the  third  touching 
the  eye,  the  posterior  frontals  are  large,  the  vertical  short,  broad, 
and  rounded  behind,  the  superciliaries  small  and  the  occipitals  very 
large,  the  mental  shield  is  small  and  triangular  behind  j  ten  lower 
labial  shields.     Eye  of  medium  size. 

This  is  the  first  of  the  Family  I  have  known  to  be  found  in 
Australia;  a  species  of  Goronella  has  long  been  quoted  as  Australian, 
but  I  have  not  seen  it,  nor  have  I  even  heard  of  any  one  who  had. 

7.  Dendrophis  bilorealis.     n.  sp. 
Scales  in  thirteen  rows. 

Abdominal  plates 200 

Anal  plate  bifid 

Sub-caudals 120/120 

Total  length  52  inches 

Length  of  tail 14  inches 

Of  rather  robust  form,  with  very  tapering  tail,  the  abdominal 
plates  are  slightly  keeled,  giving  a  flattish  appearance  to  the  belly, 
the  sub-caudals  are  very  strongly  keeled.  The  colour  is  jet  black, 
excepting  on  the  under  surface,  which  is  pinkish  white  on  the 
labial  shields,  chin  and  cervical  plates,  and  obscure  black  on  the 
remainder  of  the  ventral  plates.  A  very  fine  whitish  line  marks 
the  course  of  the  ventral  keels  along  their  entire  length. 

The  head  is  rather  broad,  obtusely  rounded  in  front,  flat  above, 
and  broader  than  the  neck,  the  rostral  shield  is  broad,  deep,  and  a 
little  rounded  behind,  there  are  two  nasals  with  a  large  nostril 
between,  two  loreals  placed  exactly  above  one  another,  of  rather 
oblong  form,  the  upper  one  highest  ;  one  anterior  ocular  deeply 
impressed  and  equal  in  height  to  the  two  loreals;  two  small  posterior 
ocular  shields.  Eye  large.  The  four  frontal  shields  are  of  about 
a5 


436  CUSTOMS  OF  THE  ABORIGINES  OF  THE  ALBERT  DISTRICT. 

equal  size,  and  of  a  nearly  square  form,  the  vertical  is  very  broad 
and  somewhat  sinuate  on  its  basal  margin,  behind  that  it  narrows 
in  a  curve  for  about  half  its  lengthy,  when  it  becomes  parallel-sided, 
and  finally  terminates  in  a  rounded  apex  ',  the  superciliaries  are 
large  and  broader  than  the  vertical  ;  there  are  eight  upper  labials, 
the  fourth  and  fifth  abutting  on  the  eye. 

The  obtuse  deep  head,  two  loreal  shields,  and  jet  black  colour, 
sufficiently  indicate  an  almost  more  than  specific  difierence  between 
this  species  and  all  the  other  Australian  Tree  snakes.  There  are 
two  specimens  in  the  collection,  the  dimensions  given  I  have  taken 
from  the  largest. 


Notes  on  Some  Customs  of  the  Aborigines  of    the    Albert 

District,  New  South   Wales. 

By  C.  S.  Wilkinson,  F.G.S..   F.L  S.,  President. 

Mr.  W.  H.  J.  Slee,  the  Government  Inspector  of  Mines,  has 
given  me  the  following  particulars  regarding  a  singular  ceremony 
which  the  Aboriginal  tribes  of  the  Mount  Poole  district  perform, 
when,  as  is  often  the  case  in  that  arid  region,  they  need  rain. 

In  many  parts  of  that  country  gypsum  occurs  abundantly  in  the 
soil,  but  the  fibrous  variety  known  as  Satin  S^mt  is  comparatively 
rare.  The  latter  is  highly  prized  by  the  natives,  and  is  called  by 
them  "  rain-stone,"  for  they  believe  that  the  Great  Spirit  uses  it 
in  making  rain,  and  probably  also  because  they  regard  it  as 
solidified  rain  on  account  of  the  resemblance  of  its  fibrous  or  striated 
structure  to  heavy  rain  ;  the  more  pronounced  are  the  striations, 
the  more  the  stone  is  valued. 

About  two  years  ago,  Mr.  Slee,  when  Warden  of  the  Mount 
Poole  Goldfield,  was  specially  invited  by  the  principal  chiefs  of  the 
Mount  Poole  and  Mokely  tribes  to  attend  a  ceremony  of  "  making 
rain."  On  the  day  appointed,  the  natives  with  the  exception  of  the 
females,  who  are  not  allowed  to  see  either  the  rain  stone  or  the 
ceremony,  assembled  and  formed  in  a  circle,  in  the  centre  of  which 
stood  the  oldest  chief  and  Mr.  Slee,  no  other  person  being  permitted 
to  enter  the  circle.    After  a  great  deal  of  talking,  dancing,  singing, 


BY    C.    S.    WILKINSON,    F.G.S.,    F.L.S.  437 

and  mystical  performances  had  been  gone  through  by  all  the 
natives,  the  old  chief  produced  the  "  rain-stone,"  which  had  been 
carefully  kept  wrapped-up  in  leaves  and  a  piece  of  rag,  and  showed 
it  to  Mr.  Slee,  but  would  not  let  him  to  touch  it.  He  then  buried 
it  in  the  sand. 

On  one  of  the  creeks  near  the  diggings  are  some  marks  of  a  high 
flood,  which  the  natives  said  took  place  after  they  had  j^erformed 
the  above  mentioned  ceremony  over  an  unusually  large  rain-stone. 


On  the  Brain  of  Grey's  Whale  (Kogia   Greyi.) 

By  William  A.  Haswell,  M.A.,  B.Sc. 
[Plate  xxi.] 

The  acquisition  recently  by  the  Australian  Museum  of  a  fresh 
specimen  of  Grey's  Whale  has  afforded  me  the  opportunity  of 
examining  the  brain  of  this  rare  Cetacean.  For  comparison  I 
have  the  brain  of  only  one  other  species,  viz.,  that  of  the  species 
of  Delplmius  (D.  Fosteri)  common  on  the  New  South  Wales 
Coast. 

The  total  length  of  the  Kogia  was  nine  feet  six  inches,  which 
may  be  regarded  as  about  the  average  length  of  these  small 
Cetaceans.  The  length  of  the  encephalon  is  6^  inches,  of 
which  4J  inches  are  taken  up  by  the  cerebral  hemispheres  ; 
the  weight  of  the  whole  brain  with  the  membranes  removed 
is  about  16oz.  In  the  medulla  the  olivary  bodies  are  very 
large,  though  scarcely  so  prominent  as  in  Delpliimis.  The 
cerebellum  is  relatively  much  smaller  than  in  Delphinus  ;  the 
greatest  breadth  is  about  four  inches,  the  mesial  lobe  is  smaller  in 
proportion,  and  the  lateral  lobes  are  nearly  symmetrical.  The 
pons  is  not  prominent,  its  breadth  is  about  an  inch,  and  its  antero- 
posterior extent  less  than  three-tenths  of  an  inch.  The  antero- 
posterior extent  of  the  nates  is  greater  than  that  of  the  testes,  but 
the  latter  are  much  the  more  prominent ;  they  are  separated 
on  either  side  by  a  well-marked  groove  which  makes  an  angle  of 
about  60'^  with  the  mesial  lonsfitudinal  axis. 


438  ON    THE    BRAIN    OF    GREY's    WHALE, 

The  greatest  breadth  of  the  cerebrum  (six  inches)  is  considerably 
greater  than  its  length  (dj  inches),  and  in  fact  exceeds  the  total 
length  of  the  encephalon.  Its  greatest  vertical  thickness  is  two 
inches.  It  is  narrower  in  front  than  in  Deljjhinus,  and  the  general 
shape  is  more  nearly  triangular.  The  convolutions  of  the  upper 
surface  are,  as  in  most  Cetacea,  highly  complex,  and  arranged  in 
parallel  longitudinal  folds,  but  these  are  better  defined  than  in 
Delphinus,  and  their  dividing  sulci  are  remarkably  deep.  There 
is  an  inner  narrow  longitudinal  fold  thinning  off  anteriorly ;  and 
external  to  it  three  wider  ones  ;  the  two  inner  of  these  are  cut  off 
from  one  another  throughout  the  greater  length  of  the  brain  by  a 
deep  sulcus,  the  second  and  the  third  are  not  so  deeply  divided  and 
are  united  about  the  middle  of  their  length  by  an  annectent  gyrus 
which  is  much  broader  on  the  right  side  than  on  the  left.  A  fifth 
fold  IS  traceable,  but  not  so  well  defined.  On  the  inner  surface  of  the 
hemispheres  the  convolutions  are  arranged  in  two  tiers,  the  upper 
very  complex  with  numerous  transverse  gyri,  the  lower  simpler ; 
these  are  separated  by  a  very  deep  longitudinal  sulcus.  The 
convolutions  of  the  orbital  and  ethmoidal  surfaces  are  chiefly 
longitudinal.  The  most  remarkable  peculiarity  of  this  region,  and 
perhaps  of  the  whole  brain,  is  the  great  depth  of  the  ectorhinal 
sulcus,  a  feature  marking  ofi"  the  present  form  very  strongly  from 
Deljyhinus.  The  temporo-sphenoidal  lobe  is  marked  by  numerous 
short,  irregularly  arranged  convolutions.  The  apex  of  the  lobe, 
consisting  of  two  convolutions  placed  nearly  longitudinally,  is 
sharply  divided  off  from  the  rest  by  a  deep  sulcus.  The  convolu- 
tions of  the  tentorial  surface  follow  a  radiating  arrangement. 

The  corpus  callosum  is  an  inch  and  three-eighths  in  antero- 
posterior extent.  It  is  thin  towards  the  middle  and  dilated  at 
either  end,  more  particularly  in  front  where  it  forms  a  prominent 
thickening ;  in  transverse  section  it  does  not  appear  uniformly 
curved,  but  bent  at  a  very  obtuse  angle  a  little  behind  the  middle 
of  its  length.  The  lateral  ventricles  are  of  very  great  breath 
(more  than  an  inch.)  The  optic  thalami  are  of  large  extent  and 
cover  the  greater  part  of  the  floor  of  the  ventricles.  The  anterior 
cornua  of  the  lateral  ventricles  do  not  pass  forwards   beyond  the 


BY    WILLIAM    H.    HASWELL,    M.A.,    B.SC.  439 

anterior  extremity  of  the  corpus  callosum  ;  the  posterior  coriiua 
are  rudimentary.  The  hippocampus  major  is  well-defined  and  ends 
in  a  prominent  pes  ;  the  hippocampus  minor  is  comparatively  low 
and  inconspicuous. 

Explanation  of  Plate  xxi. 
Fig.    1. — Upper  view  of  the  brain. 
,,     2. — Lower  view  of  one  half  of  the  brain. 
,,      3. —  Mesial  longitudinal 'section. 


On  a  New  Genus  of  Fishes  from  Port  Jackson. 
By  William  Macleay,  F.L.S.  Plate  xxii. 
The  Fish  here  described  was  captured  in  a  seine  net  at  Watson's 
Bay  by  a  fisherman,  last  Friday  morning,  was  taken  by  Mr. 
Mulhall,  Sub-Inspector  of  Fisheries,  to  Dr.  Cox,  and  was  by  him 
presented  to  the  Australian  Museum.  Finding  it  to  be  something 
])erfectly  new,  I  lost  no  time  in  transferring  to  paper  as  accurate  a 
description  of  it  as  was  possible  under  the  circumstances,  for 
unfortunately  the  taxidermist  of  the  Institution  had  already 
skinned  the  fish,  and  thrown  away  the  body.  I  have  had  there- 
fore no  means  of  ascertaining  the  size  or  shape  of  the  air-bladder, 
or  the  number  of  pyloric  appendages,  and  my  measurement  of  the 
height  of  the  body  of  the  Fish  as  compared  with  its  length,  has 
been  also  to  some  degree  a  matter  of  guess  work.  For  the  genus 
I  propose  the  name  of  Psilocranium  from  its  bald  head,  and  for  the 
species  that  of  the  learned  President  of  the  Commissioners  of 
Fisheries. 

Genus  Psilocranium. 


Of  elongate  form,  scarcely  if  at  all  laterally  compressed.  One 
dorsal  fin,  the  soft  portion  much  larger  than  the  anal  fin.  Caudal 
fin  forked.  The  lower  rays  of  the  pectoral  fins  simple.  Teeth  in  a 
viliform  band  in  both  jaws.  Prseorbital  and  prseoperculum  entire. 
Scales  large,  thin,  cycloid.  Head  naked,  except  on  the  operculum 
which  is  clothed  with  small  non-imbricate  scales  embedded  in  the 
skin.     Branchiostegals  five,  the  inner  one  very  small. 


440      ON  A  NEW  GENUS  OF  FISHES  FROM  PORT  JACKSON. 

This  Fish  is  clearly  one  of  the  Cirrhitidce,  but  differs  in  a  marked 
degree  from  all  the  genera  included  in  that  Family  of  the  Perches. 
Its  closest  relationship  however,  is  to  ChilodactyluSy  a  genus  which 
is  represented  by  numerous  species  on  our  Coasts,  and  which  with 
its  congeners  the  Trumpeters  {Latris)  are  I  think  about  the  best 
food  Fishes  the  sea  provides  us  with.  The  most  striking  generic 
distinctions  are  to  be  found  in  the  elongate  almost  cylindrical  form 
of  the  body,  and  the  bald  head,  Ckilodactyltis  being  of  compressed 
form  and  having  scaly  cheeks. 

PSILOCRANIUM  COXII.       n.  Sp. 

D.  16/25.  A.  3/10.  L.  lat.  46.  L.  tr.  4/10. 
The  height  of  the  body  at  the  highest  part  immediately  behind 
the  head,  is  less  than  one-fifth  of  the  total  length,  the  length  of 
the  head  is  about  the  same.  The  head  is  convex  between  the 
eyes ;  the  eyes  are  large,  situated  about  the  middle  of  the  length  of 
the  head,  and  about  two  of  their  diameters  apart,  the  snout  is 
convex,  rounded  and  somewhat  tumid  at  the  extremity,  the 
mouth  is  rather  small,  the  lips  very  thick  and  fleshy,  the  maxillary 
does  not  nearly  reach  half-way  to  the  eye,  the  intermaxillary  is  very 
protractile,  the  lower  lip  has  a  large  fleshy  fold  beneath,  and  when 
the  mouth  is  shut  is  received  completely  within  the  upper  jaw 
The  only  teeth  are  a  band  of  fine  villiform  teeth  in  both  jaws. 
The  head  is  covered  with  a  smooth  soft  skin,  the  side  of  the 
operculum  is  rough  with  small  scales  embedded  in  the  skin,  which 
extend  towards  the  back  part  of  the  orbit.  The  lateral  line  is 
straight  and  situated  near  the  back  along  its  whole  length.  The 
scales  of  the  body  are  large,  thin,  smooth  edged  and  of  an  oblong 
square  form.  The  dorsal  fin  is  moderately  notched,  the  seventh 
spine  is  the  longest,  being  about  2^  times  in  the  height  of  the 
body,  the  soft  dorsal  gets  gradually  lower  towards  the  tail,  the 
caudal  fin  is  large,  broad,  and  deeply  bilobed,  the  third  anal  spine 
is  longer  than  the  others,  and  is  half  the  length  of  the  first  ray,  the 
rays  get  shorter  after  the  second,  the  pectorals  have  five  simple 
rays,  the  upper,  one-sixth  longer  than  the  next  to  it,  extends  to 
the  tenth  scale  of  the  body. 


BY  WILLIAM    MACLEAY,  F.L.S.  44l 

The  colour  is  blackish,  with  the  scales  of  the  body  more  or 
less  silvery  in  the  centre;  two  ill-defined  silvery  longitudinal  bands 
are  traceable  on  the  caudal  half  of  the  body.*  The  fins  are  all 
black,  the  anal  and  ventrals  have  a  lightish  coloured  edge. 

The  length  of  this  fine  fish  from  the  snout  to  the  extremity  of 
the  tail  is  2  feet  8J  inches. 

Since  writing  the  foregoing  I  have  seen  three  species  of  the 
Cirrhitidce  from  South  Australia  just  received  by  the  Australian 
Museum.  One  of  them  much  resembles  this  Fish  in  many  respects. 
It  has  large  scales,  naked  cheeks,  and  a  more  elongate  form  than 
Chilodactylus,  and  might  I  think  be  placed  in  the  present  genus, 
but  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  it  is  identical  with  the  G.  nigricans 
of  Richardson,  a  species  abundant  at  King  George's  Sound,  and 
which  he  describes  as  being  of  a  more  elongate  form  than  usual  in 
the  genus,  and  as  being  without  scales  on  the  cheek,  though  that 
he  ascribes  to  accident.  The  other  two  South  Australian  species 
evidently  belong  to  Mr.  De  Yis's  genus  Dactylophora  (Proc.  Linn. 
Soc,  N.  S.  Wales.  Vol.  viii.  P.  284.)  One  of  them  indeed  is 
his  D.  semimaculata. 


NOTES    AND    EXHIBITS. 

Dr.  Cox  exhibited  a  specimen  of  Gonus  nodulosus.  He  stated 
that  an  unique  specimen  was  possessed  by  Mr.  Taylor,  from 
whose  collection  it  was  first  described  by  Sowerby,  in  1865,  which 
was  said  to  have  come  from  Australia.  Hitherto  no  second 
specimen  had  been  recorded  from  Australia,  but  the  one  now 
exhibited  had  been  sent  to  him  by  Mr.  Flateau,  of  Melbourne, 
with  a  number  of  West  Australian  shells,  to  be  named,  and  he 
concluded  from  that  circumstance  that  it  also  had  come  from  that 
locality.  Dr.  Cox  also  exhibited  a  specimen  of  Gonus  abhas,  a 
rare  species  from  West  Australia. 

Dr.  Cox  also  exhibited  some  fine  specimens  of  "  water-stones," 
with  globules  of  water  enclosed.       They   were  obtained  from  near 

*  This  only  shows  on  one  side  and  is  probably  accidental. 


442  NOTES    AND    EXHIBITS. 

Beech  worth,  Victoria.  The  President  explained  that  these  were 
pseudomorphs,  formed  in  cavities  between  crystals  by  the  deposi- 
tion of  silica  from  water  holding  that  mineral  in  solution. 

Also,  a  rare  form  of  Cyiproia  Lijnx  of  Linn.  This  rare  form 
difiers  from  those  abnormal  forms  found  in  New  Caledonia  by 
having  the  marginal  callus  as  a  thick  opaque  cream-coloured 
layer  reflected  over  the  whole  dorsal  surface  of  the  shell  except  at 
the  median  line.  The  base  of  the  shell  was  not  thickened  and 
opalized  as  in  the  New  Caledonian  specimens. 

Dr.  Cox  also  exhibited  some  remarkable  forms  of  deformed 
e(yo-s  from  the  common  hen.  One  of  these  measured  over  two 
inches  long,  was  of  a  conical  form,  and  bent  towards  one  end. 
These  specimens  were  all  the  property  of  Mr.  Flateau. 

Also,  three  cocoons  of  a  large  silkworm  of  the  genus  Attacus, 
and  a  gall  of  a  Coccus,  obtained  at  the  North  Shore,  which  had 
been  sent  to  Dr.  Cox  by  Mr.   William  Hemming. 

Mr.  Brazier  exhibited  on  behalf  of  Mr.  J.  F.  Bailey,  of  Mel- 
bourne— specimens  of  Valuta  maculata  nearly  all  white,  Voluta 
volva  four  inches  long,  Cyiorcea  eximia  Sowerby,  from  Eocene 
beds.  Port  Phillip ;  Ci/prcea,  a  new  species  also  fossil ;  a  fine 
specimen  of  Cornelian  from  Basalt  in  the  bed  of  the  Yarra  River  ; 
and  a  number  of  fossil  Micro-Bryozoa  from  the  Gippsland  Lakes, 
which  he  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  Members. 

Mr.  Haswell  exhibited  a  beautifully  prepared  skeleton  of  the 
Port  Jackson  Shark,  prepared  by  Mr.  H.  Barnes  of  the  Museum- 
according  to  a  process  recently  invented  by  Professor  S.  Jeffrey 
Parker,  of  Dunedin. 

Mr.  J.  G.  Griffin,  Assoc.  M.LC.K,  C.E.,  exhibited  nine  native 
stone  weapons  from  various  parts  of  New  South  Wales;  one 
a  flat  piece  of  slate,  7  inches  long  and  21  wide  by  f  of  an  inch 
thick,  is  peculiar,  and  was  probably  used  to  cut  bark,  or  even  for 
skinning  animals.  Another,  a  pebble  of  Diorite,  was  dredged  from 
the  Hawkesbury. 


*  NOTES    AND    EXHIBITS.  443 

Mr,  Gilliatt  exhibited  a  specimen  of  Salt  from  the  Holy-Box 
Well,  about  half-way  between  the  Darling  and  Lachlan  Rivers. 
He  stated  that  the  salt  was  left  in  large  quantities  about  the 
troughing  of  the  well  on  the  evaporation  of  the  water. 

The  Hon.  James  Norton  exhibited  the  nest  of  Origma  rubricata 
from  Springwood,  which  was  taken  from  a  flat  horizontal  sand- 
stone rock  from  which  it  suspended  by  its  upper  portion,  had  been 
worked  by  the  bird  into  a  kind  of  string,  and  wedged  into  a  small 
semi-detached  iiake  of  the  rock. 

Mr.  Macleay  exhibited  the  lizard  and  snakes  described  in  his 
Paper. 


WEDNESDAY,  28th  NOVEMBER,  1883. 


The  President,   C.   S.  Wilkinson,   Esq.,   F.G.S.,   F.L.S.,  in  the 
chair. 


Mr.  Caldwell,  Fellow  of   Cains   College,   Cambridge,    and  Mr. 
Mountain,  City  Surveyor,  were  introduced  as  visitors. 


DONATIONS. 

Dr.  Petermann's  "  Geographische  Mittheilungen,"  1855  to  1876 
inclusive,  29  volumes,  4to ;  and  "  Freund's  Latin  Lexicon,"  1  vol. 
8vo,  1851.     "  Weller's  French   and  English   Dictionary,"  1   vol., 
8vo,  1863.     From  Prof.  W.  J.  Stephens,  M.A. 

"  Bulletin  de  la  Socie  te  Imperiale  des  Naturalistes  de  Moscou,' 
Tome  Lviii.,  No.  1,  1883.     From  the  Society. 

"Observations  on  New  Vegetable  Fossils  of  the  Auriferous 
Drifts,"  2nd  Decade,  1883  ;  and  "  The  Plants  indigenous  around 
Shark's  Bay  and  the  vicinity,"  1883.  By  Baron  Ferd.  von  Mueller, 
K.C.M.G.,  F.R.S.,  (fee,  &c.     From  the  Author. 

"  Proceedings  of  the  Royal  Society  of  London/'  vol.  xxxiv., 
Nos.  221  to  223,  vol.  xxxv.,  Nos.  224  to  226  ;  June,  1882,  to 
June,  1883.     From  the  Society. 

"  Loudon's  Encyclopaedia  of  Plants,"  1  volume,  8vo,  1872.  From 
Edwin  Haviland,  Esq. 

"  Feuille  des  Jeunes  Naturalistes,"  No.  150,  October,  1883 
From  the  Editor. 


DONATIONS.  445 

A  valuable  edition  of  "  Izaak  Walton's  Complete  Angler,"  1 
vol.,  8vo,  1815.  Atlas  of  Maps  of  the  various  Parishes  of  the 
County  of  Cumberland.  Photo-lithograph  of  a  relief  model  of  the 
Colony  of  Victoria.     From  G.  A.  Cheeke,  Esq. 

"Science,"  vol.  ii.,  Nos.  32  to  35,  September  14th  to  October 
5th,  1883.     Also  duplicate  copies  of  vol   i.,  Nos.  2  to  13. 

"  On  the  naturalised  weeds,  and  other  plants  in  South  Aus- 
tralia "  and  "  On  the  Urari,  the  deadly  arrow  poison  of  the 
Macusis,  an  Indian  Tribe  in  British  Guiana."  By  Dr.  Richard 
Schomburgk,  F.R.S.,  &c.     From  John  Brazier,  Esq.,  C.M.Z.S. 

"  Proceedings  of  the  Linnean  Society  of  New  South  Wales." 
Vol.  I,  Parts  1  and  4.  Vol.  iii.  Parts  1  and  4.  Vol.  iv. 
Parts  1,  2,  and  3.  Vol.  v.  Parts  2,  3,  and  4.  Vol.  vi.  Parts  1, 
2,  and  3.     From  Mrs.  Onslow. 


papers  read. 

Fishes  from  South  Sea  Islands. 

By  Charles  W.  De  Vis,  M.A. 
To  Government  agents  and  captains  employed  in  hiring  hands 
for  the  plantations,  I  am  indebted  for  several  opportunities  of 
examining  fish  from  the  prolific  waters  around  the  Islands  from 
which  the  labour  supply  is  derived.  In  the  collections  thus 
incidentally  made,  undescribed  species  have  so  often  appeared  that 
I  have  no  doubt  a  systematic  research  would  be  grandly  rewarded. 
The  following  are  the  species  which  now  seek  admittance  into  our 
lists  : — 

Serranus    perguttatus. 

D.   9/14.     A.   3/9.     L.  Lat,  plus  100. 

Height  3 1  in  the  length,  head  the  same.  Snout,  J  ;  Orbit,  and 
Interorbil  6|^  in  the  head. 

Caudal  rounded.  Preopercle  entire,  emarginate  over  angle. 
Interopercle  feebly  serrated.  Inter-maxillary  reaching  far  beyond 
the  orbit.     Pectoral  reaching  the  vent. 


446  FISHES    FROM    SOUTH    SEA    ISLANDS, 

Light  brown ;  head,  body  and  vertical  fins  covered  with  blue 
black-edged  spots. 

Loc.   New  Hebrides.     Collector,  Mr.  Cheeke. 

Serranus  cruentus. 
D.  11/15.     A.  f. 

Height  3  J  ;  head,  3^  in  the  length.  Orbit,  and  snout,  3  ;  inter- 
orbit  7^  in  the  head. 

Fourth  and  fifth  dorsal  spine  longest,  J  of  the  height.  Pectoral 
reaching  vent.  Inter-maxillary  reaching  beyond  the  eye.  Upper 
limb  of  inter-operculum  finely  serrated,  with  strong  teeth  at  the 
angle. 

Light  red  with  six  half  cross  bands,  the  first  over  the  vertex  to 
the  pre-operculum.  Fins  bright  red,  upper  fore  corner  of  webs  of 
spinous  dorsal  black,  edge  of  pectoral  yellow. 

Length,  85  inches.     Loc.  New  Britain. 

Mesoprion  flavirosea. 
D.   11/12.    A.   3/7.     L.   Lat.   52.     Tr.   10/16. 

Height  31,  head  3J  in  the  length.  Orbit  2J,  snout  4  in  the 
head  ;    interorbit,  ^  of  orbit.       Canines  '^ 

Pre-operculum  strongly  serrated  at  the  angle,  scarcely  emarginate 
on  the  one  side,  deeply  on  the  other.  Pectoral  reaching  origin  of 
anal,  caudal  emarginate. 

Light  brown  washed  with  yellow  posteriorly.  Fins,  except 
spinous  dorsal,  yellow.  A  faint  spot  over  lateral  line  beneath 
origin  of  soft  dorsal,  another  fainter  on  end  of  caudal  peduncle 
above,  middle  rays  of  caudal  dark. 

Loc.  New  Britain. 

In  the  young  the  spots  on  the  body  are  rather  more  distinct. 

Tetraroge  vestitus. 
D.  16/9,     A.  3/6. 
No  barbels.     Cleft  of  mouth  reaching  centre   of   eye.      Jaws 
equal.     Spinous  dorsal  commencing  on  the  nape.      Pectoral  hardly 
reaching  anal.     Scales  very  distinct. 


BY    CHARLES  W.  DE   VIS,  M.A.  447 

Olive  brown,  dark  speckled,  the  markings  tending  to  form  four 
bands  across  the  back. 

Loc.   South  Seas.      Collector,  Captain  Brown. 

ACANTHURUS    ZEBRA. 

D.  9/28.     A.  3/20.     V.  4 J. 

Height  J,  head  ^  of  the  length,  s.c.      Preorbital  2  J  in  the  head. 

Caudal  spine  moderate,  caudal  emarginate.  Half  of  outer 
ventral  ray  undeveloped. 

Five  vertical  bands,  first  through  the  eye,  second  curved  back- 
wards on  the  abdomen.  A.  black  spot  on  the  end  of  the  caudal 
peduncle  above.     Upper  part  of  head  dark  grey. 

Loc.     Duke  of  York's  Group. 

Rhynchichthys  nov^-Britanni^. 
D.   10  1/11.     A.  4/7.     L.  Lat.  43.     L.   Tr.  4/7.     V.   1/7. 
"Height  3 J  in  the  length  s.c.    (4-1  c.c),   head  3  in  the  length  s.c. 
Orbit,  2 J  ;  snout,  3|;  inter-orbit,  4^  in  the  head. 

No  vomerine  teeth,  snout  pointed.  Third  dorsal  spine  longest, 
more  than  |-  of  the  height.  Third  anal  spine,  5-|  in  the 
total  length,  or  ^  of  the  head.  Inter-maxillary  not  reaching  the 
middle  of  the  eye.  Operculum  with  two  spines,  the  upper  largest 
with  two  small  ones  above  it.  Inter  and  sub-opercles  entire. 
Pre-opercular  spine  short.     Caudal  lobes  equal. 

Silvery  with  a  strong  red  blush.  Longitudinal  rows  of  dark 
spots  on  the  body,  a  double  line  of  round  spots  from  the  angle  of 
the  operculum  to  the  tail.  Four  oblique  lines  of  spots  on  the 
pre-operculum.  Fins  immaculate.  Inner  half  of  caudal  lobes 
white. 

Length  6  inches.     Loc.  New  Britain. 

Harpage,  Fam.  berycid^e. 
Muzzle  short,  gape  rather  oblique,  jaws  equal.       Teeth  viliform 
on  jaws,  vomer,  palatines  and  tongue.     Five  branchiostegals,  oper- 
cles  serrated.     Operculum  distinctly   and  pre-operculum  scarcely 


448  FISHES    FROM    SOUTH    SEA    ISLANDS, 

spiniferous,  scales  etenoid,  larger  and  more  distinct  anteriorly 
than  posteriorly.  Dorsals  slightly  connected.  Yentrals  contiguous, 
with  7  rays,  the  outer  simple.  Caudal  forked,  anal  with  3  spines. 
Spinous  dorsal  sheathed. 

Harpage  rosea. 
D.  12  1/14.  A.  3/11.     L.  Lat.  42.    L.  Tr.  5/10.    P.  1/16.  V.  1/7. 

Height  2| ;  head  33  in  the  total  length.  Orbit  3 J,  snout  4J, 
interorbit  5|  in  the  head. 

Moderately  elevated,  thick.  Profile  regular,  more  convex  above. 
Dorsal,  anal  and  lobes  of  caudal,  obtusely  pointed.  Inter-maxillary 
reaching  much  beyond  orbit,  very  deep  posteriorly  and  over- 
hanging the  mandible.  Caudal  small.  Profile  of  spinous  dorsal 
regularly  arched,  4th  to  6th  spines  longest ;  lower  than  the  soft. 
Scales  spinose  on  the  edge,  the  anterior  ones  with  6 — 7  rather  long 
teeth.  Opercular  spine  distinct  from  the  serrations,  but  short. 
A  short  bifid  spine  on  the  angle  of  the  pre  operculum.  Second 
anal  spine  much  longer  and  stronger  than  the  third.  Lateral  line 
almost  obsolete  on  the  caudal  peduncle.  Cheek  and  operculum 
sharply  granular.     Tnteropercle  scaly. 

Ruddy  brown  stained  with  red.     Fins  pale. 

Length,  5  inches.  Loc.  S.  S.  Islands  Collector,  Captain 
Eastlake. 

GOBIODON    axillaris. 

D.  6  1/9.     A.  1/7. 

Height  3 J  in  the  length,  head  considerably  higher  than  long, 
profile  parabolic,  no  scales,  lower  canines  sharp,  right  one  bifid  in 
both  of  two  specimens. 

Pale  greenish — a  red  brown  line  below  the  base  of  the  dorsals. 
Base  of  fins  yellow,  edges  broadly  brown.  Four  brown  vertical 
lines  on  the  head,  the  first  from  the  eye  ;  a  blackish  red  spot  above 
the  axil  of  the  pectoral.. 

Loc.     Bank's  Group.     Collector,  Mr.  C.  F.  Browne. 


BY    CHARLES  W.  DE  VIS,  M.A.  449 

GOBIODON     FLAVIDUS. 

D.  6  1/9.     A.  1/8. 

Height  4J  in  the  length,  head  as  long  as  high,  profile  vertical 
with  a  slightly  projecting  snout.  No  scales.  Lower  canines 
rather  large. 

Pale  greenish  yellow.  An  orange  line  from  over  orbit  along 
edge  of  operculum  and  on  base  of  pectoral.  An  orange  band  down 
middle  of  body.  Two  short  blue  lines  on  cheek  opposite  angle  of 
mouth,  sometimes  absent 

Loc.     Bank's  Group.     Mr.  C.  F.  Browne. 

GOBIODON    LINEATUS. 

D.  6  1/10.     A.  1/9. 

Height  5  nearly  of  the  length,  profile  parabolic  with  a  slightly 
protruding  muzzle  ;  no  scales  ;  habit  elongate  ;  canine  teeth. 

Smoky  brown,  anal  and  caudal  brownish  black.  Bases  of 
pectoral  and  caudal  pale  yellow,  traversed  by  a  slender  dark-edged 
blue  line.  All  the  head  and  fore  part  of  the  body  with  similar 
undulatory  vertical  lines,  which  become  very  obscure  posteriorly. 

Loc.     Bank's  Group.     Collector,  Mr.  C.  F.  Browne. 

GOBIODON      INORNATUS. 

D.  6  1/11.     A.  1/9. 

Height  4 J  in  the  length,  head  much  longer  than  high,  profile 
parabolic  with  a  rather  projecting  snout,  no  scales,  lower  canines 
moderate. 

Flesh-yellow.  Chin,  base  of  pectoral  and  of  caudal  yellow.  No 
markings  save  an  obscure  purplish  streak  beneath  the  base  of  the 
dorsals.     Spinous  dorsal  black-edged. 

Loc.     Bank's  Group.     Collector,  Mr.  C.  F.  Browne. 

GOBIOSOMA    PUNCTULARUM. 

D.  5/25.       A.  24. 
Height  10 J,  head  4f  in   the  length,  third  dorsal  filament  4  in 
the  same. 


450  FISHES    FROM    SOUTH    SEA    ISLANDS, 

Yellowish,  minutely  dotted  with  brown.  Distant  brown  spots 
on  the  upper  part  of  the  head  and  neck  and  on  soft  dorsal ;  caudal 
with  three  faint  crossbars. 

A  shorter  fish  than  9  guttulatiom  MacL,  with  a  longer  head  and 
a  much  shorter  and  more  delicate  filament.  The  body  is  without 
traces  of  bands.  Guttulatum  is  minutely  freckled  with  white,  and 
the  bars  on  the  tail  are  frequently  multiplied  and  broken  up  into 
spots — in  the  present  fish  they  are  constantly  linear  and  faint,  its 
mandibulary  cirrhi  also  are  much  smaller. 

Loc.     South  Sea  Islands  probably. 

Salarias  griseus. 
D.  30.     A.  20. 
Height  5,  head  5|  in  the  length. 

Lower  canine  moderate.  A  bifid  tentacle  on  nostril  and  orbit. 
A  pair  of  short  fringed  tentacles  on  nape  Anterior  profile  oblique. 
Dorsal  rising  on  vertical  of  upper  opercular  angle,  continuous  with 
caudal,  violet  grey.  Pectoral  brown  spotted  ;  ventral  brown 
tinged. 

Loc.     South  Sea  Islands. 

Salarias  iEQUiPiNNis.     Gunth. 

A  specimen  which  may  be  of  this  species  has  a  dorsal  formula 
12/19,  and  a  pointed  caudal.  It  is  dark  grey  with  pale  spots 
arranged  anteriorly  in  short  vertical  bands.  The  anal  rays  are 
black,  but  there  is  no  marginal  black  band.  Possibly  it  is  distinct, 
the  number  of  dorsal  spines  being  reduced  beyond  the  usual  limits 
of  variation. 

Amphiprion  arion. 

D.   10/17,      A.    2/13      L.  Lat.  55.      L.  Tr.  5/20. 

Height  2J  (^  IJ  s.c),  head  3|  in  the  total  length.  Snout  and 
orbit,  3J ;  interorbit  2 J  in  the  head. 

Muzzle  very  obtuse,  rounded,  jaws  equal.  Pre-operculum 
feebly  denticulated.     Opercle  radiately  toothed,  in  two  main  lobes. 


BY    CHARLES    W.  DE  VIS,  M.A.  451 

Brownish  yellow.  A  narrowly  dark-edged  broadly  elliptical 
(slug-shaped)  pearly  band  from  the  base  of  the  anterior  dorsal  to 
the  chest.  A  large  ovate  black-brown  blotch  covers  the  hinder 
half  of  the  trunk  from  the  distal  third  of  the  pectoral  to  the 
caudal  peduncle,  but  does  not  reach  the  anal.  Vertical  fins  yellow. 
Venti'als  and  anal  spines  black. 

Length,  3  J.     Loc.   South  Seas.     Collector,  Mr.  Cheeke. 

POMACENTRUS    ONYX. 

D.   12/11.      A.   2/12.     L.  Lat.    26.     L.  Tr.   2/9. 

Height  5  of  the  length,  s.c. ;  head  3  barely. 

Pre-orbital  finely  serrated,  and  ^  of  orbit,  pre-opercle  finely 
serrated  on  posterior,  more  strongly  on  lower  limb.  Profile  very 
convex  above,  less  so  beneath. 

Four  black  bands,  first  over  the  eye  to  the  chin  and  chest. 
Second  from  anterior  half  of  spinous  dorsal  to  ventral.  Third 
from  posterior  half  of  soft  dorsal  to  anal.  Fourth  forming  a 
large  ovate  patch  covering  the  end  of  the  caudal.     Yentrals  black. 

Loc.   South  Seas.     Collector,  Captain  Browne. 

POMACENTRUS    NOTATUS. 

D.  13/12.     A.   2/13.     L.   Lat.  25.     L.  Tr.   2/7. 

Lobes  of  caudal  prolonged,  of  dorsal  and  anal  moderately  so. 
Operculum  with  a  spine. 

Brownish  grey  with  a  blue  tinge.  Pectoral  and  tip  of  soft 
dorsal  yellow.  Tip  of  anal  and  caudal  lobes  white.  Scales  of 
head  and  belly  with  short  longitudinal  bars  of  blue  ;  of  back  and 
flanks  with  vertical  streaks,  many  of  which  are  curved,  and  have 
a  process  directed  backwards  from  their  middle. 

Length,  3  inches.     Loc.  New  Britain. 

POMACENTRUS    NIOMATUS. 

D.  13/13.     A.  2/13.      L.   Lat.  26. 
Height  2J,  head  3^  in  the  length.    Operculum  entire,  pre-orbital 
narrow,  almost  entire  pre-operculum  strongly  serrated. 
a6 


452  FISHES    FROM    SOUTH    SEA    ISLANDS, 

Uniform  pale  brown.     A  minute  black  super-axillary  spot. 
Locality,  probabiy  South  Sea  Islands. 

POMACENTRUS    TRIFASCIATUS. 

D.  12/11.     A.  2/4.     L.  Lat.  24. 

Height  2|-,  head  4  in  the  length  ;  orbit  and  post-orbit  2|, 
snout  3J,  inter-orbit  2^  in  the  head. 

Fourth  and  fifth  dorsal  spines  longest,  |-  of  the  head,  posterior 
rays  rather  prolonged,  pointed ;  soft  dorsal  higher  than  long ; 
second  anal  spine  strong,  shorter  than  soft  dorsal.  Lilac  brown, 
with  three  transverse  bands— first,  from  nape  and  occiput  to 
chin  leaving  inter-orbit  and  muzzle  clear  ;  second,  across  middle 
of  body ;  third,  across  its  hinder  part  (including  soft  dorsal  and 
anal)  and  caudal  peduncle.     Point  of  soft  dorsal  white. 

Locality,  probably  South  Sea  Islands. 

Glypidodon  pallidus. 

D.  12/11.     A.  2/11.     L.  Lat.  26. 

Height,  2^  in  the  length  ;  Preorbital  3  in  the  orbit ;  snout, 
shorter  than  the  eye. 

Teeth  uniserial,  long  ;  caudal  emarginate,  lobes  rounded.  Pale 
yellowish  blue  ;  a  blue  line  from  base  of  dorsal  to  muzzle  on  each 
side.  Two  curved  lines  beneath  the  eye  ;  small  oval  spots  or 
short  streaks  above  lateral  line,  and  extending  upon  the  webs  of 
the  dorsal  ;  streaks  on  a  few  scales  below  the  lateral  line. 

Long.  2  inches.  Locality,  Bank's  Group,  Collector,  Mr.  C. 
P.  Browne. 

Glyphidodon   amabilis. 

D.  13/11.     A.  2/11.     L.  Lat.  27.      L.  Tr.  IJ/S. 

Height  25  in  the  length,  snout  equals  eye.  Preorbital  3  in  the 
head. 

Yiolet  brown,  with  three  pale  transverse  bars — one  on  the 
operculum  spreading  behind  the  base  of  the  pectoral ;  second, 
from  base  of  sixth  dorsal  spine  to   the   vent ;  third,  broad  across 


BY    CHARLES    W.   DE    VIS,  M.A.  453 

caudal  peduncle.  Pale  spots  on  the  operculum,  and  forming  two 
curved  lines  below  the  orbit  and  with  an  angular  streak  on  its 
posterior  third,  and  a  few  small  white  spots  anteriorly  ;  spinous 
dorsal  dark  edged,  soft,  with  a  blackish  base  gradually  rising 
higher  posteriorly;  caudal  largely  white  tipped,  dark  between 
the  lobes. 

Locality,  South  Sea  Islands.     Collector,  Captain  Eastlake. 
Glyphydodon  uniocellatus.       Quoy  and  Gainard. 

Dr.  Gunther  regards  G.  assimilis  as  quite  distinct  from  uniocel- 
latus, and  judging  from  his  diagnosis  of  it,  with  good  reason.  But 
a  fish  occurs  in  Captain  Eastlake' s  collection,  which  appears  to  be  a 
link  between  the  two,  and  is  therefore  worthy  of  notice.  It  is 
blue  with  a  darker  blue  spot  on  the  base  of  each  scale.  In  G. 
assimilis,  the  lower  part  of  the  head  is  brown  (in  life  yellow.)  In 
the  present  fish  this  colour  is  continued  with  a  nearly  straight 
upper  limit  to  the  posterior  third  of  the  anal  and  is  traversed 
longitudinally  by  an  irregularly  undulating  blue  streak.  The 
black  dorsal  spot  is  on  the  base  of  the  posterior  rays,  and  there  are 
traces  of  blue  longitudinal  lines  on  the  anal.  Qn  the  whole 
however,  its  distinctive  characters  are  not  sufficient  to  separate  it 
from  either  of  the  two  species  referred  to.  Two  specimens  alike. 
Nesiotes  n.  g.      Fam.  Labridse. 

Anterior  canines  \,  posterior  none ;  laterals  confluent,  with 
distinct  serration.  Lateral  line  resumed.  Cheeks  and  opercles 
scaly.     Base  of  dorsal  not  scaly.     Twelve  dorsal  spines. 

Difiers  from  Decodon  in  the  absence  of  a  posterior  canine,  and 
from  Semi-cossyphus  in  the  serrations  of  the  dental  ridge. 

N.    PURPURASCENS 

D.  12/13.     A.  3/14.     L.  Lat.  37. 

Height  3  J,  head  4  in  the  total  length  ;  orbit  |,  snout  4  in  the 
length  of  the  head  ;  interorbit  ^  of  orbit. 

Scales  on  cheeks  in  4  series,  imbricate  ;  on  operculum 
few,  large,  not  imbricate.  Profile  convex  above,  much  less  so 
beneath.  Pre-orbital  low.  Caudal  bluntly  pointed.  Dorsal  and 
anal  acuminate,  last  rays  rather  prolonged. 


454  FISHES   FROM    SOUTH    SEA    ISLANDS, 

Purplish  brown.  Base  of  pectoral  and  of  caudal  pale,  in  the 
latter  space  a  vertical  ellipse  of  the  ground  colour.  Scales  of  body 
with  conspicuous  dark  edges  and  obscure  pale  spots  tending  to 
form  longitudinal  lines. 

Length,  2^  inches.  Locality,  South  Seas.  Collector,  Captain 
Eastlake. 

ExOCiETUS    LONGIBARBA. 

D.   14.     A.  13. 

From  the  chin  a  long  barbel  *  of  the  length  of  the  head.  Head 
longer  than  the  height.     Snout  §  of  the  eye. 

Pectoral  reaching  beyond  the  base  of  the  caudal.  Insertion  of 
the  ventral  nearer  to  the  snout  than  to  the  caudal.  Dorsal  low 
not  reaching  the  caudal. 

Pectoral  black  with  the  basal  half  paler.  Two  dark  grey  bars 
across  the  posterior  part  of  the  trunk  not  meeting  below.  Base  of 
caudal  black. 

Loc.  New  Britain. 

Arius  armiger. 

D.   1/7.     A.  22.     P.  1/8. 

Teeth  in  two  bipartite  divisions,  forming  a  curved  band. 
Vomerines  sub-granular ;  in  separated  groups,  which  are  more 
than  twice  as  long  as  broad  and  elliptical.  Palatines  in  granular 
groups  contiguous  to  vomerines,  elongate,  ovate.  Cej)halic  shield 
as  broad  as  long  with  the  sides  emarginate ;  fore  end  angular, 
hind  end  truncate.     Base  bone  of  dorsal  moderate,  chevron  shaped. 

Height,  6^,  head  4f  in  the  length. 

Dorsal  spine  longer  than  the  head ;  pectoral  f  of  dorsal ; 
ventral  5  of  pectoral.  Outer  maxillary  barbel  reaches  beyond  the 
pectoral  spine ;  mandibulary  nearly  to  its  tip.  Adipose  fin  |  of 
dorsal.  Eyes  about  J  of  snout.  Upper  lobe  of  caudal  longest. 
Dorsal  spine  in  front,  granulate  at  base,  sub-serrated  above ; 
behind  strongly  toothed.  Pectoral  spine  smooth  before,  strongly 
toothed  behind. 

Paired  fins  white  at  base,  black  for  the  rest. 

Loc.  New  Britain.     Length,  8  inches. 


by  charles  w.  de  vis,  m.a.  455 

Ophichtiiys  cobra. 

Head  ^q  of  trunk;  snout  I  of  head;  pectoral  6 J  in  head. 
Habit  round,  firm.  A  line  of  pores  from  interorbit  to  snout  on 
each  side.  Head  depressed,  attenuated.  Gape  reaching  beyond 
level  of  orbit.  Dorsal  and  anal  very  low,  membranous,  immersed 
each  in  a  groove.  Dorsal  rising  a  little  behind  the  gill  orifice? 
which  is  short  and  immediately  in  front  of  the  pectoral. 

Brown  with  about  27  black  half -bands  across  the  back. 

Loc.  South  Seas.     Collected  by  Captain  Browne. 

Ophicthys    naja. 

Head  one-eleventh  nearly  of  the  trunk  ;  tail  one-fourth  longer 
than  the  head  and  trunk  together.  No  pectorals.  Teeth  molar, 
uniserial  on  jaws  and  vomer.  Dorsal  and  anal  higher  than  the 
grooves  in  which  they  are  seated,  with  distinct  rays. 

Yellow,  with  twenty-seven  complete  brown  rings  which  are 
narrower  than  the  interspaces :  some  of  the  interspaces  with  a 
large  oval  spot. 

Loc.     South  Sea  Islands.     Collector,  Mr.  C.  F.  Browne. 

The  teeth  are  neither  pointed,  granular,  nor  conical,  but  flat 
tubercular  molars :  the  fish  therefore  does  not  fairly  enter  either 
of  Dr.  Gunther's  subdivisions  of  the  genus ;  yet  it  has  nothing 
further  to  justify  its  separation  under  another  generic  term. 

It  reproduces  closely  the  style  of  colouring  and  general  facies  of 
the  fish  described  as  Herpetichthys  cobra  (Proc.  Linn.  Soc.  N.  S. 
Wales,  1883,  p.  )  and  finding  that  the  statement  that  maxillary 
teeth  are  wanting  in  that  species  was  too  hasty,  I  am  now  of 
opinion  that  Herpetichthys  should  sink  into  a  synonym. 

Trachycephalus  n.g.  Fam.  sclerodermi. 

Body,  more  or  less,  naked.  Teeth  villiform,  on  jaws  only. 
Mouth  oblique,  gape  very  wide.  Pre-operculum  armed.  Bran- 
chiostegals  4.  Gills  4,  no  slit  behind  the  fourth.  Nopseudobranchise. 
Pectorals  broad,  fleshy,  on  a  strong  carpal.  Lateral  line  con- 
tinuous. Dorsal  and  anal  rays  few.  Yentrals  abdominal, 
rudimentary. 


456  fishes  from  south  sea  islands, 

Trachycephalus  Bankiensis. 
D.  7/14.     A.  2/10. 

Height  2^,  head  31  in  the  length,  suborbital  J  nearly  of  the 
head. 

Head  above  nearly  to  base  of  dorsal,  armed  with  short  columnar 
spines,  bearing  spinelets  on  their  tips  much  as  in  Monacauthus 
trachylepis.  Rest  of  head  and  body  naked,  skin  finely  wrinkled. 
Gape  very  oblique.  Lower  jaw  thick  and  prominent.  Profile  of 
head  very  obtuse.     Yentrals  as  two  minute  spines. 

Length  1 — IJ  inches.  Locality,  Banks  Group.  Collector,  Mr. 
C.  F.  Browne. 

Tetrodon  insularum. 

Nasal  process  single,  open  fore  and  aft.  Lips,  cheek,  chin  and 
caudal  peduncle  from  before  the  dorsal  fin,  naked.  Operculum 
and  axillary  band  slightly,  and  the  rest  distinctly  spinose.  Osseous 
interorbit  shorter  than  snout.  Eye  considerably  nearer  tip  of 
snout  than  to  gill  orifice.  Interorbit  rather  convex,  Blue  black 
above,  with  irregular  dark  spots,  nearly  obliterating  a  dingy  yellow 
ground  colour,  and  descending  on  the  flanks  as  broad,  on  the 
cheeks  as  narrower,  vertical  streaks.     Below  white. 

Loc.   Api.     Collector,  Mr.  C.  F.  Browne. 

Tetrodon    l^vis. 

Nasal  tentacle  single,  open  fore  and  aft.  Osseous  interorbit 
broader  than  snout.  Eye  further  from  snout  than  from  gill  orifice. 
Interorbit  convex.     Back  broad,  rather  depressed. 

Naked,  smooth,  except  on  the  abdomen,  which  is  covered  with 
spine-pores. 

Brownish  black  above,  white  below.  An  indistinct  broad 
inter-orbital  band,  and  one  crossing  the  back  behind  the  pectoral. 
A  broad  black  oval  patch  descending  from  the  base  of  the  dorsal 
and  another  similar  blotch  on  the  root  of  the  caudal. 

Length,  5  inches.  Loc,  South  Seas.  Collector,  Mr.  C.  F.  Browne. 


BY    CHARLES    W.   DE    VIS,  M.A.  457 

The  following  localities  have  afforded  known  fish  : — 

Neio  Britain — Pterois  volitans,  L.  Therapon  trivittatiis.  BIk. 
Mursena  nebulosa,  Bl.  Platyglossus  scapularis,  Benn.  Saurus 
varius  Lacep,      Exocaetus  evolans  L.     Genyoroge  melanura,   Rup, 

New  Ireland — Tetrodon  nigropunctatus,  Blk.  Serranus  lauti. 
Forsk.      Ostracion  cornutus,  L. 

±rp{ — Chrysophiys  Australis,  Gunth.  Chgetodon  xanthuras, 
Blk.     Chsetodon  vittatus,  Blk.      Muroena  Brummeri,  Blk. 

Duhe  of  York's  Group — Balistes  verrucosus,  L. 


Some  Results  of  Trawl  Fishing  outside  Port  Jackson. 
By  William  Macleay,  F.L.S.,  &c. 

Whatever  adds  to  our  knowledge  of  the  natural  productions  of 
the  country,  either  on  land  or  water,  must  be  a  matter  of  general 
interest.  I  need  scarcely  then,  I  think,  offer  any  apology  for  the 
frequency  with  which  I  trespass  on  the  time  of  this  Society  by 
laying  before  it  short  notices  of  new  Fishes  found  in  Port  Jackson 
and  its  neighbourhood.  I  am  aware  that  to  the  Ichthyologist 
these  isolated  descriptions  of  species,  are,  to  say  the  least  of  it, 
troublesome,  and  that  it  would  be  far  better  and  more  convenient 
for  the  student,  if  I  were  to  reserve  these  descriptions  until  the 
publication  of  a  Supplement  to  my  Catalogue  of  the  Fishes  of 
Australia,  a  work  which  I  have  now"  in  hand.  But  I  have  an 
object  to  serve  of  a  more  utilitarian  character,  than  the  mere 
identification  and  nomenclature  of  species;  T  am  desirous  of  seizing 
every  possible  opportunity  of  forcing  upon  the  notice  of  the  public 
the  great  value  of  our  Fisheries,  or  rather  of  what  might  be  their 
great  value,  were  we  disposed  to  develop  them. 

I  have  often  said,  and  I  repeat — and  it  cannot  be  repeated  too 
often — we  have  in  our  seas  a  wonderful  variety  of  the  most 
excellent  fishes,  not  surpassed  in  numbers,  excellence  and  variety 
in  any  country  in  the  world.  We  have  herrings  of  various  kinds 
visiting  our  shores  annually  in  countless   shoals,  we  have  similar 


458         RESULTS    OF    TRAWL    FISHING    OUTSIDE    PORT    JACKSON, 

shoals  of  mackerel,  tailor,  king-fish,  trevally,  and  yellow  tail.  We 
might  catch  mullet — a  fish  equal  to  the  salmon — in  any  quantity, 
if  we  had  a  market  for  it.  We  have  whiting,  garfish,  schnapper, 
morwhong,  Jew  fish,  sole,  skate,  John  Dorey,  and  in  fact  good 
representatives  of  all  the  best  kinds  of  Fishes  in  the  world.  It  has 
always  been  inexplicable  to  me,  how  men  of  intelligence  should 
deliberately  shut  their  eyes  and  ears  to  such  facts  as  these,  and 
advocate  the  introduction  from  distant  places  of  fishes  which  a 
bountiful  nature  has  already  amply  supplied  us  with.  And  even 
if  we  had  our  seas  as  full  of  Cluj^ea  harengus,  as  they  are  now  of 
Clupea  sagax,  of  what  use  would  it  be,  the  schnapper  line  would 
be  as  useless  to  catch  them,  as  the  shallow  seine  net,  and  beyond 
these  miserable  appliances  our  fishermen  seem  incapable  of  going. 
It  is  however,  gratifying  to  know  that  efibrts  towards  improvement 
in  fishing  appliances  are  being  made  by  the  Commissioners  of 
Fisheries,  it  is  in  this  way,  much  more  than  by  enforcing  useless 
provisions  in  Acts  of  Parliament,  that  bhey  have  it  in  their  power 
to  confer  lasting  benefits  on  the  country,  and  it  is  much  to  be 
regretted  that  their  efi'orts  are  not  more  liberally  aided  by  the 
Government  than  they  are. 

This  Paper  is,  as  its  heading  implies,  a  statement  of  the  results 
of  a  trial  made  of  a  Beam  Trawl  a  few  weeks  ago  by  order  of  the 
Commissioners,  and  it  is  to  Dr.  Cox,  the  President  of  the 
Commission  that  I  am  indebted  for  the  information  I  am  now 
enabled  to  give. 

The  Trawl  was  of  the  kind  used  at  Grimsby,  but  made  I  believe 
here ;  a  steamer  was  supplied  by  Government,  and  the  trial  was 
intended  to  occupy  one  week.  The  results  were  disappointing  as 
regards  the  amount  of  work  done,  but  that  seems  to  have  been  due 
entirely  to  the  severity  of  the  weather,  and  the  unfitness  of  the 
steamer  for  a  heavy  sea. 

The  Trawl  was  only  put  over  the  side  twice  during  the  week, 
and  then  only  for  an  hour  or  two,  so  that  the  actual  amount  of 
ground  trawled  over  was  very  small. 

The  following  minutes  of  the  actual  results  have  been  furnished 
to  me  by  Dr.  Cox — "  November  26th.     Trawl  put  down  six  miles 


BY  WILLIAM    MACLEAY,  F.L.S.,  tfec.  459 

off  the  South  Head  of  Botany  Bay,  in  40  fathoms  of  water,  it  was 
kept  down  for  three  hours,  at  the  end  of  which  time  it  was  working 
in  55  fathoms  of  water.    The  Trawl  was  found  to  contain  no  weeds, 
but  showed  evidence  of  having  been  well  on  the  ground. 
In  the  Trawl  were  found, 

3  dozen  Lepidotrigla. 

Several  small  John  Dorey  (Zeus  australis.) 

2  dozen  small  sting  rays. 

4  skates  {Rata),  about  4  lbs.  weight. 
Several  small  saw-fish." 

"  2.  November  27th.  Trawl  put  down  four  miles  off  ColamuUa 
Reef  in  22  fathoms  water,  steering  south-by- east.  The  Trawl  was 
kept  down  three  hours,  and  when  raised  was  in  40  fathoms  of 
water,  the  haul  consisted  of, 

Several  dozen  of  Lepidotrigla. 

14  John  Dorey. 

6  saw-fish  sharks  (Pristiophorus. ) 

A  number  of  sting  rays.  ; 

A  flathead. 

3  small  soles." 

Of  these  the  Lejndotrigla  and  Baia  are  new,  and  will  be 
described  at  the  end  of  this  Paper.  Looked  at  as  a  whole,  I 
consider  the  results  of  this  trawling  experiment  as  decidedly 
promising.  The  existence  of  a  true  skate  so  near  us  and  in  such 
apparent  quantity,  is  of  itself  a  valuable  discovery  ;  the  abundance 
of  the  John  Dorey  is  also  important,  for  it  has  hitherto  been 
considered  rare,  and  for  its  quality  as  a  food  fish  it  is  unrivalled  in 
the  world.  The  new  species  of  Lepidotrigla  seems  to  be  very 
abundant  in  these  moderate  depths,  but  its  size  is  not  sufficient  to 
make  it  valuable  in  a  commercial  sense.  The  paucity  of  Pleu- 
roneatidce  I  should  feel  inclined  to  ascribe,  notwithstanding  the 
opinion  given  to  the  contrary  in  the  minute  quoted  above,  to  the 
probability  that  the  trawl  did  not  as  a  rule  closely  scrape  the 
ground,  and  the  fact  that  it  came  up  free  of  weeds  seems  to 
strengthen  this  supposition. 


/S 


460        RESULTS    OF  TRAWL    FISHING   OUTSIDE    PORT    JACKSON, 

This,  the  first  attempt  at  deep  water  trawling  in  New  South  Wales, 
whether  looked  upon  as  unsuccessful  or  fairly  successful,  proves  one 
thing  incontestably,  and  that  is,  that  we  know  very  little  indeed  of 
the  inhabitants  of  our  seas  excepting  those  which  are  mere  surface 
animals.  Of  the  few  fishes  dredged  up  from  depths  of  40  or  50 
fathoms,  two  were  utterly  unknown  before,  and  the  others  were 
looked  upon  as  extremely  rare.  I  trust  that  the  Commissioners 
will  make  further  attempts  to  educate  our  fishermen  in  trawling, 
and  to  show  what  can  be  done  by  that  mode  of  fishing ;  but  I  may 
be  allowed  to  suggest  also,  that  they  should  have  the  survey 
of  the  sea  bottom  out  to  the  100  fathom  line,  which  was  commenced 
in  October  1882,  completed  as  soon  as  possible,  as  it  is  unreasonable 
to  suppose  that  fishermen  can  risk  the  entire  loss  of  such  costly 
nets  as  the  Beam  Trawl  on  unknown  ground. 

The  following  are  the  descriptions  of  the  two  new  captures  :  — 

Lepidotrigla  Mulhalli. 
D.  9/15.     A.   15.     L.  lat.  53. 

Scales  regular  and  smooth,  only  those  on  the  lateral  line  slightly 
keeled  and  spinous.  Head  rough  and  granular,  projecting  over  the 
mouth  in  a  subspatulate  form  with  the  angles  strongly  spinous, 
the  sides  strongly  serrated  and  the  middle  in  front  emarginate.  The 
top  of  the  head  between  the  eyes  is  concave.  The  operculum  is 
armed  with  one  acute  spine,  the  coracoid  bone  is  very  large  and 
terminates  in  a  long  acute  spine  ;  there  is  a  prolongation  of  the 
skull  on  each  side  above  the  lateral  line  which  also  terminates  in 
a  large  acute  spine.  The  caudal  fin  is  scarcely  emarginate,  the 
ventrals  are  nearly  as  long  as  the  pectorals  and  are  inserted 
slightly  in  advance  of  them,  both  fins  reach  the  anal.  The  colour 
is  of  a  beautiful  red  all  over,  with  occasional  deeper  red  blothes  on 
the  fins  and  parts  of  the  body  ;  the  pectorals  are,  except  at  the 
base,  entirely-bluish  black  beneath. 

This  Fish  was  found  in  abundance  in  40  fathoms  of  water 
outside  the  Heads ;  the  average  length  was  9  inches.  The 
genus  Lepidotrigla  is  represented  in  these  seas  by  several  species  ; 
of  which  one  L.  papilio  is  known  to  inhabit  Port  Jackson,  but  I 


BY  WILLIAM    MACLEAY,  F.L.S.,  &C.  461 

have  not  been  able  to  find  that  the  present  species  has  ever  been 
seen  before.  I  name  it  after  Mr.  Sub-Inspector  Mulhall,  to  whom 
I  am  indebted  foi-  much  of  mj  knowledge  of  the  Fishes  of  this 
country. 

Raia  australis.     n.  sp. 

Snout  long,  produced,  roundly  pointed,  the  terminal  third 
covered  with  spinous  granules  above  and  beneath  ;  the  width  of  the 
interorbital  space  one-fourth  or  nearly  so  of  the  distance  of  the  eye 
from  the  end  of  the  snout.  The  profile  from  the  snout  to  the 
extremity  of  the  pectoral  fin  is  emarginate  on  the  sides  of  the 
snout,  then  gently  sinuate,  and  again  lightly  and  lengthily  emar- 
ginate. Mouth  transverse,  straight,  teeth  in  the  upper  jaw  in  a 
semi-lunar  patch.  Outer  pectoral  angle  rounded,  along  its  edge 
from  in  front  of  the  eye  to  near  the  angle,  a  dense  band  of  small 
granular  looking  spines,  becoming  finer  towards  the  angle  ;  six 
spines  four  of  them  small,  in  front  of  the  eye  ;  three  larger 
behind  the  eye.  One  strong  short  spine  near  the  commencement 
of  the  vertebral  column,  the  remainder  of  the  back  smooth.  The 
disc  is  one-third  broader  than  the  length.  A  subcutaneous  spine 
can  be  felt  on  each  side  near  the  commencement  of  the  tail,  that  on 
the  right  side  appearing  to  be  behind  the  other.  The  tail  is 
considerably  shorter  than  the  body  measuring  from  the  first  spine, 
and  is  armed  with  three  rows  of  strong,  acute,  recurved  spines,  for 
two-thirds  of  its  length,  beyond  that  the  spines  are  continuous  only 
in  the  central  row,  but  the  sides  are  covered  with  sharp  granules  ;  it 
terminates  in  a  point;  the  spines  are  much  more  numerous  in  the 
female.  The  upper  lobe  of  the  ventral  fin  resembles  a  human 
hand  with  the  fingers  conjoined.  The  colour  is  brown  on  the  back, 
becoming  paler  on  the  snout  and  pectoral  fins.  Under  surface 
white. 

This  is  the  first  instance  I  have  known  of  a  true  Baia  having 
been  found  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Port  Jackson,  though  they  are 
not  uncommon  farther  south.  In  Tasmania  and  Port  Phillip  there 
are  two  known.  Eaia  Lamprieri  of  Richardson,  the  Thorn  back 
of  the  Melbourne  fishermen,  and  Rata  rostrata  of  Castelnau,  a 
species  which  attains  a  great  size.     Another  species,  Raia  nitida 


462       THE    BAROMETRO    ARAUCANA    FROM    THE    CHILOE    ISLANDS, 

taken  in  a  trawl  off  Twofold  Bay  by  the  Challenger  expedition,  has 
since  been  described  by  Dr.  Gunther.  All  of  these,  though 
belonging  to  the  genus  Raia,  have  no  very  marked  resemblance  to 
Hala  hatis  the  well-known  Skate  of  Europe,  but  the  species  now 
described  resembles  the  common  Skate  so  closely,  that  to  a  casual 
observer  they  would  appear  identical.  As  an  article  of  food,  Skate 
has  never  been  much  in  favour  here,  in  fact,  except  in  French 
Cafes  and  places  of  that  kind,  Rays  flesh  is  scarcely  used  at  all, 
but  I  believe  the  kind  most  in  use  is  the  Trygon  pastinaca  or  the 
large  black  Sting  ray.  Whether  the  Australian  Skate  will  become 
more  popular  as  an  article  of  food  than  the  Sting  ray,  remains  to 
be  seen. 


The  "  Barometro  Araucano  "  from  the  Chiloe  Islands. 
By  N.  de  Miklouho-Maclay. 

Amongst  the  different  interesting  Ethnological,  Archaeological, 
and  Zoological  objects  on  board  the  Italian  Corvette,  "  Caracciolo," 
which  Captain  C.  de  Amezaga,  had  the  kindness  to  show  me.  I 
saw  a  peculiar  instrument  called  the  "Barometro  Araucano," 
which  as  he  explained  to  me,  is  used  by  the  natives  of  the  Chiloe 
Islands  as  an  indicator  of  approaching  rainy  or  dry  weather,  and 
change  of  wind. 

This  instrument  is  nothing  else  but  the  shell  of  a  crab.  Mr.  W. 
Haswell  has  informed  me  that  the  crab  belongs  to  the  genus  Lithodes, 
and  Dr.  F.  Rho  of  the  "Caracciolo"  told  me  later,  that  he  has  seen 
the  same  in  the  collections  of  the  Museum  at  Santiago  in  Chili, 
marked  as  Lithodes  Antarcticus. 

Capt.  C.  de  Amezaga  had  this  peculiar  instrument  with  him 
during  the  voyage  of  the  Corvette  from  the  West  Coast  of  South 
America  to  Sydney,  and  confirmed  completely  the  statement 
heard  by  him  from  the  Chiloans  about  the  use  of  the  instrument. 

The  ordinary  colour  of  the  shell  during  dry  weather  is  light  grey, 
which,  as  soon  as  the  air  gets  damp  becomes  gradually  covered 
with  spots  of  a  dark  (reddish)  tint.  The  increase  of  humidity  in 
the  atmosphere  makes  the  spots  larger,  so  that  the  shell  is  at  last 
quite  of  a  dark  (reddish)  colour. 


BY    N.    DE    MIKLOUHO-MACLAY.  463 

Captain  de  Amezaga  was  kind  enough  to  take  before  me  the 
Lithodes  shell  out  of  its  silver  case  witli  glass  top,  in  which  it  has 
been  kept  hanging  on  the  wall  in  his  cabin,  and  to  sprinkle  the 
shell  with  a  few  small  drops  of  water.  In  less  than  half  a  minute 
the  wetted  spots  became  of  a  pink  colour,  which  soon  got  darker. 
It  was  a  very  decisive  test  of  the  hygroscopic  property  of  the  sliell. 

I  think,  however,  that  very  likely  not  only  the  Lithodes 
Antarcticiis  shells  have  this  property,  but  many  of  other  genera  and 
species,  the  capacity  of  which  in  this  respect  have  not  been  yet 
discovered. 

The  shells  of  the  Lithodes  antarcticus,  which  have  this  peculiar 
change  of  colour,  are  only  of  a  certain  size  (age).  The  shells  of 
large  (old)  specimens  appear  to  lose  completely  the  property  of 
alteration  of  colour. 

The  shell  which  I  saw  on  board  the  "  Caracciolo  "  acting  as  the 
"  Barometro,"  was  not  more  than  4  inches  wide  and  3  inches  long. 
The  usefulness  of  the  Lithodes  shell  as  a  Barometer  is  greater 
in  such  localities  whei-e  the  moisture  of  the  atmosphere  corresponds 
very  intimately  with  the  changes  in  the  dii-ection  of  the  winds  ;  for 
instance,  as  it  is  on  the  south-west  coast  of  South  America,  where 
the  *'  Barometro  Araucano "  is  not  only  an  indicator  of 
approaching  rain,  but  also  of  change  in  the  direction  of  the  wind, 
because  there  the  predominant  winds  are  the  north  and  the  south 
winds.  The  north  wind  from  the  end  of  April  until  September  is 
moist,  and  brings  rain,  the  south  wind  is  dry,  so  that  there  the 
change  of  wind  is  constantly  followed  by  a  change  of  weather. 

I  have  not  hesitated  to  take  this  opportunity  to  mention  the 
"Barometro,"  or  more  correctly,  the  ^^  Hygi^ometro  Araucano" 
because  having  consulted  diflferent  books  about  Chiloe,  I  have 
found  not  one  line  about  this  strange  instrument. 


NOTES   AND    EXHIBITS. 

Baron  Maclay  exhibited  and  made  some  remarks  on  a  very- 
ingenious  instrument  invented  by  Dr.  Gottschau  of  Wurzburg,  to 
enable  accurate  measurements  to  be  taken  of  photographed 
fiofures. 


464  NOTES   AND    EXHIBITS. 

Mr.  Macleay  announced  his  having  received  a  letter  from  the 
Yice- President,  the  Rev.  J.  E.  Tenison- Woods,  from  Singapore, 
who,  he  was  glad  to  inform  the  meeting,  was  in  good  health,  and 
enjoying  his  trip  very  much.  He  had  travelled  all  through  Java, 
and  inspected  some  of  its  active  Volcanoes,  had  visited  two  places 
in  Sumatra,  and  was  preparing  for  an  Elephant  expedition  into 
the  interior  of  the  Malacca  peninsula. 

Mr.  Macleay  also  stated  that  he  had  been  informed  by  Professor 
McCoy,  that  the  large  shark  captured  at  Portland,  Victoria,  and 
which  had  been  spoken  of  at  last  month's  meeting  of  the  Society, 
was  the  Selache  maxima,  or  Basking  Shark  of  the  Arctic  Seas, 
and  that  the  dimensions  had  been  correctly  reported.  Mr.  Macleay 
added  that  this  is  the  first  specimen  of  the  Fish  recorded  from  the 
Southern  Hemisphere. 

Dr.  Cox  exhibited  the  skull  of  a  common  rabbit  which  had  been 
sent  to  him  by  the  rabbit  inspector  of  the  district  on  the  Darling 
Kiver  between  Hay  and  Wilcannia.  In  this  skull  the  incisor 
teeth  of  both  jaws  were  enormously  elongate;  the  upper  pair 
being  over  |  inch  in  length,  curving  downwards  and  outwards  ; 
the  lower,  IJ  inch  long,  in  the  normal  direction.  Professor 
Stephens  pointed  out  that  similar  overgrowths  were  common  in  all 
rodents,  when  one  or  more  incisors  had  been  lost ;  but  that  in 
this  case  the  abnormal  divarication  of  the  upper  pair,  had  led  to 
the  continued  growth  of  all  four  teeth,  since  they  could  not  meet 
so  as  to  wear  each  other  down. 

Dr.  Cox  also  exhibited  some  portions  of  large  Encrinite  stems 
from  Camboon,  Dawson  River,  Queensland  ;  and  two  numbers  of 
the  Forest  Flora  of  South  Australia,  by  J.  E.  Brown,  F.L.S. 

Mr.  Morton  exhibited  a  fine  collection  of  Australian  Annelids 
and  Soft  MoUusks  beautifully  mounted  on  white  and  blue  glass 
slides. 

He  also  exhibited  the  following  weapons,  &.C.,  from  the  South 
Sea  Islands : — 1.  A  spear  from  the  Solomon  Islands,  having  the 
head  made  from  a  human  tibia.  2.  Another  spear  from  the  same 
place,  inlaid  with  small  pieces  of  shell.      3.  A  staff  or  wooden 


NOTES    AND    EXHIBITS.  465 

sword  from  the  Island  of  Savo,  beautifully  ornamented  with 
coloured  grass  plaiting.  4.  A  dagger  with  blade  of  obsidian,  from 
the  xVdmiralty  Islands.  5.  A  collar  from  the  same  place, 
elaborately  ornamented  with  shells.  6.  Two  bowls  from  the 
Island  of  Ugi,  Solomon  Group,  one  representing  two  human 
figures  grasping  the  bowl,  both  inlaid  with  pearl  shell.  7.  Two 
arrows  from  the  Island  of  Ambry m,  the  points  coated  with  a 
glue-like  matter,  and  with  a  reed  covering,  which  were  said  by  the 
natives  to  be  poisoned.  To  test  this,  a  cat  was  placed  under 
chloroform,  and  the  point  of  an  arrow  inserted  about  an  inch  in 
the  fleshy  part  of  the  thigh,  but  no  inconvenience  seemed  to 
result.  8.  A  mask  from  the  same  place,  of  considerable  artistic 
merit,  and  ornamented  with  a  profusion  of  long  flowing  locks  made 
of  banana  fibre. 

Mr.  Brazier  exhibited  on  behalf  of  Mr.  J.  F.  Bailey,  a 
beautiful  specimen  of  Cyproea  contusa,  McCoy,  from  Eocene 
limestone,  Victoria. 

Mr.  Whitelegge  exhibited  under  the  microscope  a  Plumatella- 
like  form,  which  he  considered  to  be  new,  from  a  pond  in  Moore 
Park. 


THURSDAY,  27th  DECEMBER,  1883. 


The  President,  C.   S.   Wilkinson,   Esq.,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.,  in   the 
chair. 


MEMBER    ELECTED. 

J.  N.  Macintosh,  Esq.,  of  Bathiirst. 


DONATIONS. 

"Transactions  of  the  Entomological  Society  of  London."  Seven 
volumes  complete,  from  1876  to  1882,  and  three  parts  of  the  volume 
for  1883.     From  the  Society. 

"Journal  of  the  Linnean  Society  of  London."  Botany:  Nos. 
122  to  129,  29th  November,  1882,  to  24th  September,  1883. 
Zoology:  Nos.  95  to  100,  26th  September,  1882,  to  14th  August, 
1883.     From  the  Society. 

"Bulletins  de  1' Academic  Boyale  des  Sciences  des  Lettres  et 
beaux  Arts  de  Belgique."  3me  serie.  Tome  v.,  1883.  From  the 
Society. 

"Nova  Acta  der  Ksl.  Leop.  CaroL  Deutschen  Akademie 
der  Naturforscher."  Band  XL.,  No.  9  ;  Band  xli..  Part  ii.  No.  6. 
"  Leopoldina,"  xvin.  Heft.  1882.     From  the  Academy. 

"  The  Parrot  Family  and  Parrots  of  Victoria."  By  T.  Augustus 
Forbes  Leith.     From  J.  F.  Bailey,  Esq. 

"Papers  and  Proceedings  of  the  Royal  Society  of  Tasmania 
for  1882."     From  the  Society. 


DONATIONS.  467 

"  Feuille  des  Jeunes  Naturalistes,  Paris."  No.  157,  November, 
1883.     From  the  Editor. 

From  the  Zoological  Society  of  London  :  "  Proceedings,"  Part  3 
for  1888  ;  "Transactions,"  vol.  xi.,  Part  9,  October  1883,  4to;  and 
List  of  Yertebrated  Animals,  8th  edition,  1883. 

"Journal  of  Conchologj,"  vol.  iv.,  No.  4,  October  1883.  From 
the  Conchological  Society  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland. 

"  Science."  Vol.  ii.,  Nos.  36,  37  and  40,  12th  October  to  Qth 
November,  1883.     From  the  Editor. 

"  Ancient  Life  History  of  the  Earth."  By  H.  Alleyne  Nicholson, 
D.Sc,  F.R.S.,  1877.      From  Thomas  Whitelegge,  Esq.,  Waterloo. 


papers  reap. 

Far  Southern  Localities  for  Various  Plants  in  New  South 
Wales,  recorded  from  Mr.  W.  Baeuerlen's  Collections. 

By  Baron  von  Mueller,  K.C.M.G.,  M.D.,  F.R.S.,  F.L.S., 

F.G.S.,  &c. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  of  all  subjects  in  Natural  History, 
whether  of  plants  or  animals,  is  that  of  tracing  the  regional 
distribution  of  the  species  over  their  respective  areas.  But  to 
effect  this  throughout  the  vast  empire  of  Nature  with  any  approach 
to  completeness,  will  necessarily  be  a  work  of  very  much  time,  so 
that  it  is  only  by  the  accumulation  of  multitudes  of  observations, 
instituted  all  over  the  globe,  that  the  natural  range  of  each  specific 
form  may  at  last  be  determined,  subject  even  then  in  many  cases 
either  to  extension  by  further  spreading  of  the  species,  or  to 
reduction,  as  they  may  locally  become  annihilated  through  the 
agency  of  man.  Any  contributions  to  data  of  these  kinds — 
however  trifling  in  themselves — will  tend  towards  accomplishing 
such  enquiries ;  and  it  is  therefore,  without  much  hesitation,  that 
the  following  notes  are  submitted.  They  emanated  from  collec- 
tions recently  formed  on  the  writer's  suggestion  by  Mr.  Wilhelm 
Baeuerlen,  during  a  stay  in  the  Clyde  district.  It  is  not  improbable 
a7 


468  FAR    SOUTHERN    PLANTS    IN    NEW    SOUTH    WALES, 

that  some  of  the  plants  here  recorded  may  be  traced  still  further 
south,  inasmuch  as  the  tracts  of  country  adjoining  the  Twofold 
Bay  district  northerly,  are  as  yet  imperfectly  known  in  reference 
to  their  vegetation,  although  botanic  gatherings  by  Miss  Mary 
Bate,  and  previously  by  the  late  Mr.  Beader  about  Mount 
Dromedary,  brought  to  light  several  varieties,  as  recorded  in  a 
former  volume  of  the  Linnean  Society  of  New  South  Wales. 

Comesperma  sphaerocarpum  at  TJlladulla. 

Boronia  Barkeriana ;  TJlladulla,  Milton. 

Mirbelia  reticulata  ]  Ulladalla. 

Phyllota  phyiicoides ;  TJlladulla. 

Bubus  Moorei ;  Milton. 

Callicoma  serratifolia  ;  Yadburra. 

Baeckea  crenulata  ;  TJlladulla. 

Melaleuca  thymifolia  ;  TJlladulla. 

Melaleuca  linearifolia  ;  Milton. 

Melaleuca  hypericifolia ;  Milton, 

Callistemon  linearis ;  Brooman. 

Metrosideros  glomulifera ;  Milton. 

Didiscus  albiflorus ;  Milton. 

Lambertia  formosa  ;  TJlladulla. 

Grevillea  linearis  ;  TJlladulla. 

Persoonia  revoluta  ;  Milton. 

Passiflora  Herbertiana ;  Milton. 

Cassinia  denticulata ;  Yadburra. 

Polymeria  calycina  ;  TJlladulla. 

Prostanthera  prunelloides ;  Yadburra. 

Myoporum  Bateae  ;  Milton. 

Epacris  longifiora  ;   Milton. 

Diacophyllum  secundum ;  Milton. 

Dendrobium  cucumerinum  ;  Yadburra. 

Calanthe  veratrifolia  ;  Milton. 

Pterostylis  acuminata ;  TJlladulla. 

Cryptostylis  erecta  ;  TJlladulla. 

Calochilus  paludosus  ;  Milton. 

Hsemodovum  teretifolium  ;  Milton. 


BY  BARON  VON  MUELLER,  K.C.M.G.,  M.D.,  F.R.S.,  F.L.S.,  &C    469 

Blandfordia  nobilis ;  UlladuUa. 
Xerotes  flexifolia  ;  Yadburra. 
Anisopogon  avenaceiis  :  Lake  Burrill. 
Schizaea  rupestris ;  Milton. 
Hymenophyllum  marginatum  ;  Milton. 
Blechnum  serrulatum  ;  Milton. 
Adiantum  diaphanum  ;  Milton. 
Hjpolepis  tenuifolia ,  Milton. 
Polypodiiim  confluens  ;  Milton. 
Alsophila  Leichardtiana  ;  Milton. 


Descriptions  of  Australian  Micro-Lepidoptera. 

By  E.  Meyrick,  B.A. 

X.  OECOPHORiDiE — (Continued,) 

35.  Philobota.     Meyr. 

Head  smooth,  sidetufts  large  or  moderate,  meeting  behind 
sometimes  somewhat  projecting.  Antennae  moderate,  in d*  moder- 
ately and  evenly  ciliated  (1-1  J),  basal  joint  moderate,  with  strong 
pecten.  Palpi  rather  long,  second  joint  somewhat  exceeding  base 
of  antennae,  densely  scaled,  rather  loosely  beneath,  terminal  joint 
rather  shorter  than  second,  slender,  recurved.  Thorax  smooth. 
Forewings  elongate,  moderate  or  rather  bread,  hindmargin  rounded 
or  slightly  concave.  Hindwings  almost  as  broad  as  forewings, 
elongate-ovate,  hindmargin  rounded  or  sometimes  gently  sinuate, 
cilia  J-|.  Abdomen  moderate  or  rather  broad.  Posterior  tibiae 
clothed  with  very  long  hairs.  Forewings  with  vein  7  to  hind- 
margin, 2  from  or  somewhat  before  angle  of  cell.  Hindwings 
normal. 

This  very  large  and  interesting  genus  is  at  present  wholly 
confined  to  Australia  ;  not  even  a  stray  species  is  known  from  New 
Zealand.  The  species  are  almost  all  of  considerable  size,  and  often 
exceedingly  handsome  ;  and  there  is  a  strong  tendency  to  longitu- 
dinal marking  with  costal,  subcostal,  or  median  stripes,  connected, 
with  the  grass-frequenting  habit  of  most  species.     The  species  are 


470  DESCRIPTIONS    OF   AUSTRALIAN    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA 


mostly  rather  local,  but  usually  abundant  where  they  occur.  A 
large  proportion,  at  least,  of  the  larvae  must  feed  on  grass,  possibly 
in  the  roots  ;  this  is  almost  certain  from  the  habits  of  the  imagos, 
but  I  have  not  hitherto  succeeded  in  finding  a  single  one. 

The  genus  may  be  taken  as  typical  of  the  group  of  Oecoplioridce 
with  vein  7  of  the  fore  wings  ending  in  the  hindmargin  or  apex  ; 
the  more  extensive,  more  highly  developed,  and  more  characteris- 
tically Australian  of  the  two.  The  smaller  and  more  triangular- 
winged  species  placed  toM^ards  the  end  of  the  genus  appear  to  me 
to  be  the  most  ancestral ;  their  affinity  being  with  Eulechria  and 
Feltophora, 

Sixty  species  are  given  here,  and  there  can   be  no  doubt  that 
many  other   and    perhaps   more   beautiful    forms    remain   to   be 
discoA^ered. 
la.  Head  yellow. 

2a.   Forewings  with  well-defined  longitudinal  streak. 
3a.   Ground  colour  yellow. 
4a.  With  a  curved  posterior  dark  fascia. 
5a.   Space  beyond  fascia  fuscous-grey. 

6a.   Inner  margin  dark  fuscous 177.  arahella. 

6b,       ,,         „         yellow   180.  irruptella. 

5b.       „         „         yellow. 

6a.   Cilia  of  hindwings  towards  anal  angleyellowish  178.  hiophora. 

6b.     „     ,,       „       wholly  grey 179.  ancylotoxa. 

4b.   Without  dark  fascia. 

5a.   With  a  dark  fuscous  streak  along  fold     186.  auriceps. 

5b.  Without  „         „  „ 

6a.  With  a  short  oblique  dark  streak  before  apex. 

7a.  With  a  dark  costal  streak. 

8a.  Shoulders  dark  fuscous  189,  latijissella. 

8b.  Anterior  half  of  thorax  wholly  dark  fuscous..  190.  hypocausta. 

7b.  Without    „     „       ,,      188.  molliculella. 

6b.  Without    „     ,,       ,, 

7a.  Costal  edge  dark  fuscous. 

8a.  With  a  red  subcostal  streak 218.  pretiocella. 

8b.  Without,,         „  „    217.  crocohapta. 


BY    E.  MEYRICK,  B.A.  471 

7b.  Without  red,  not  dark  fuscous. 

8a.   With  a  white  costal  streak 220.  adaptatella. 

8b.  Without  „         „  ,,    219.  anachorda. 

3b.  Ground  colour  grey. 

4a.   With  an  ochreous- white  dorsal  streak  198.  atmohola 

4b.  Without         „         „  „ 

5a.  With  a  yellow  subcostal  streak 181.  chrysopotama. 

5b.  Without     „  ,,         „   196.  acropola. 

3c.   Ground  colour  white  or  whitish. 
4a.  With  a  dark  fascia  before  middle. 

5a.  With  a  streak  from  fascia  along  fold 223.  hracteatella. 

5b.  Without     ,,         ,,         ,,  „      224.  trijugella. 

4b.  Without     „  )j  )j 

5a.  With  a  dark  fuscous  fascia  close  to  base  205.  ^9ar^i7eZ?a. 

5b.    Without    ,,         „  „  „ 

6a.   With  a  dark  streak  below  middle. 

7a.  With  a  dark  costal  streak 222.  interlineatella. 

7b.  Without     „  „  ,, 

8a.  Subcostal  streak  with    a  tooth  beneath 225.  acutella. 

8b.  „  ,,        without     ,,         ,,        ..  221.    hrochosema. 

6b.   Without       „        „         „        „ 

7a.  With  two  slender  very  oblique  dark  streaks  from  costa. 

8a.  First  streak  reaching  base 207.  calamaea. 

8b.     ,5  „  ,,         disc  only 206.   cretacea. 

7b.  Without,,  „  „     , .191.   crypsichola. 

2b.  Forewings  without  longitudinal  streak. 
3a.   Ground  colour  yellow. 
4a.   Base  purple-fuscous. 

5a.  With  dark  median  fascia 230.  himaculana. 

5b.   Without  ,.         „  ,,      , 231.  tentatella. 

4b.         ,,     yellow. 

5a.  With  oblique  dark  fuscous  streak  before  apex  187.  declivis. 

5b.  Without  „  ,,         „  ,, 

6a.  With  discal  dots  or  spot  beyond  middle. 

7a.   Apex  of  forewings  subacute 226.   aurinatella. 

7b.       „      „         „         rounded 


472  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    AUSTRALIAN    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

8a.  Light  yellow,  with  ill-defined  dots  228.  euxantha. 

8b.  Deep  yellow,  with  dark  fuscous  spot   229.  xanthiella. 

6b.   Unicolorous,  without  marking. 

7a.   Cilia  of  forewings  yellow 236.  electrodes. 

7b.     „       „  „  dark  grey. 

8a.  Thorax  wholly  yellow. 

9a.  Forewings  deep  orange-yellow  227.  monophaes. 

9b.  „  light  yellow  or  whitish-yellow 215.  tyroxantha. 

8b.  „  with  anterior  half  dark  fuscous  ...216.  melirrhoa. 

3b.   Groundcolour  ochreous  fuscous   185.  catalampra. 

lb.   Head  rather  dark  fuscous  or  grey. 

2a.  Hindwings  yellow c 183.  ellenella. 

2b.  „         grey. 

3a.  Forewings  fuscous 184.  monolitha. 

3^>.  „         gi-ey. 

4a.  With  a  black  fascia  near  base    200.  pedelis. 

4b.  Without  „         „        199.  erebodes. 

Ic.  Head  white,  ochreous- whitish,  or  grey-whitish. 
2a.  Forewings  with  dark  fuscous  costal  streak. 
3a.   Ground  colour  white. 

4a.   With  a  dark  fuscous  fascia  near  base  212.  pruinosa. 

4b.  Without  „         „  „ 

5a.  With  dark  median  streak  bent  up  to  costa  ...204.  glaucoptera. 

5b.   Without  ,,  ,,         ,,         ,, 

6a.   Cilia  of  forewings  more  or  less  greyish 214.  productella. 

6b.     „       „  ,,         wholly   white   2\0.  chionoptera. 

3b.  Ground  colour  not  white. 

4a.   "With  dark  fuscous  discal  dots. 

5a.  With  white  longitudinal  streak. 

6a.  Base  of  costa  white   .  195.  crepera. 

6b.      ,,     ,,     „       dark  fuscous     197.  orinoma. 

5b.  Without,,         ,,  ,,       \^i. p)hauloscopa. 

4b.    Without  ,,  ,,  „ 

5a.   Ground  colour  ochreous-whitish    192.  xiphostola. 

5b.  , ,  very  light  grey 193.  nephelarcha. 

2b.   Forewings  without  dark  fuscous  costal  streak. 


BY    E.   MEYRICK,  B.A.  473 

3a.   With   rosy  markings  232.   occidua. 

3b.  Without  „         „ 

4a.    With  four  straight  dark  fasciae 202.  herodiella. 

4b.  Without  „         „         „ 

5a.  Costa  with  three    dark  fuscous  spots   213.  squalidella. 

5b.       „     without  „  „  ,, 

Ga.  Ground  colour  white. 

7a.  Without  longitudinal  dark  streak 203.  hajMla. 

7b.  With 

Sa.  Streak  reaching  apex  209 .  agnesella. 

8b.       „       not         „ ..208.  monogramma, 

6b.       „       not  white. 

7a.   With  dark  streaks  between  veins 234.  melaiioploca. 

7b.    Without     „  ,,  „ 

8a.  Without  discal  dots    182.  catascia. 

8b.  With  three  „       ,, 

9a.   Fore  wings  irrorated  with  dark  grey 235,  pulverea, 

9b.         „  not         „  ,,  ,, 233.  homiotona. 

8c.  With  five  or  six  „  „ 

9a.  Dots  large,  distinct  201.  leucomitra. 

9b.     „      obscure  211.  hydara. 

177.  Phil,  arabella,  Newm. 

{Oecophora  arabella  Newm.,  Trans.  Ent.  Soc.  Lond.,  III.  (n.  s.), 
296,  PI.  XVIIL,  4.) 

Media,  alis  ant.  aurantiacis,  vifcta  subcostali  abbreviata,  altera 
dorsi,  fascia  etiam  postica  incurvata  aream  griseam  excludente 
saturatius  fuscis  ;  post,  saturatius  fuscis. 

$  ?.  18-24  mm.  Head  orange,  face  dark  fuscous.  Palpi  dark 
fuscous,  internally  whitish-yellow.  Antennae  dark  fuscous.  Thorax 
dark  fuscous,  a  small  lateral  spot  and  posterior  margin  orange. 
Abdomen  and  legs  dark  fuscous,  hairs  of  posterior  tibiae  whitish- 
orange.  Forewings  elongate,  costa  gently  arched,  apex  round- 
pointed,  hindmargin  very  oblique,  hardly  rounded ;  orange  or 
reddish-orange ;  costa  much  paler ;  a  moderately  broad  dark 
fuscous  subcostal  streak  from  base  of  costa  to  costa  again  beyond 


474  DESCRIPTION'S    OF    AUSTRALIAN    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

middle,  attenuated  posteriorly ;  a  similar  streak  along  inner  margin 
from  base  to  near  anal  angle  ;  a  broad  hindmarginal  fuscous-grey 
band,  irrorated  and  sometimes  suffused  with  yellow,  anterior  edge 
convex,  bordered  by  a  dark  fuscous  narrow  fascia  from  costa  at  f  to 
before  anal  angle  :  cilia  fuscous,  base  irrorated  with  yellowish. 
Hindwings  rather  dark  fuscous,  anteriorly  sometimes  lighter  and 
slightly  reddish-tinged  ;  cilia  dark  fuscous. 

A  very  handsome  species ;  Victorian  specimens  average  decidedly 
larger  than  those  from  New  South  Wales. 

Sydney,  and  Blackheath  (3,500  feet),  in  New  South  Wales  ; 
Melbourne,  in  Victoria ;  and  the  Mount  Lofty  range,  in  South 
Australia  ;  from  September  to  November,  generally  common. 

178.   Phil.  hio2)hora,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  ochreo-flavis,  vitta  costse  abbreviata,  fasciaque 
postica  incurvata  saturate  f  uscis ;  post,  saturate  f uscis,  ciliis 
angulum  analem  versus  flavidis. 

$  ?.  17-21  mm.  Head  whitish-yellow  or  ochreous-yellow, 
face  dark  fuscous  beneath.  Palpi  dark  fuscous,  internally  some- 
what mixed  with  whitish-yellow.  Antennae  dark  fuscous.  Thorax 
dark  fuscous,  two  small  posterior  spots  and  a  lateral  spot  pale 
ochreous-yellow.  Abdomen  dark  fuscous,  anal  tuft  pale  ochreous- 
yellow.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  posterior  tibiae  pale  ochreous-yellow. 
Forewings  elongate,  costa  gently  arched,  apex  round-pointed,, 
hindmargin  very  oblique,  hardly  rounded  ;  light  or  sometimes  deep 
ochreous-yellow ;  a  dark  fuscous  streak  along  costa  from  base  to  f , 
posteriorly  attenuated  ;  an  inwards-curved  narrow  dark  fuscous 
fascia  from  costa  at  *  to  before  anal  angle  ;  space  beyond  this  some- 
times sprinkled  with  fuscous  ,  cilia  fuscous-grey.  Hindwings  dark 
fuscous ;  cilia  fuscous-grey,  becoming  pale  yellowish  towards  inner 
angle. 

This  and  the  two  following  species  are  closely  allied,  but  all  are 
very  constant ;  it  will  be  interesting  to  discover  whether  they 
remain  equally  distinct  towards  the  limits  of  their  respective 
regions.       The  present   species    has    the   wings    somewhat   more 


BY    E.    MEYRICK,    B.A.  475 

elongate,  and  the  ground  colour  paler  yellow   than  in  either  of  the 
other  two,  with  the  hindmarginal  space  not  grey ;  and  is  specially 
characterised  by  the  partially  yellowish  cilia  of  the  hindwings. 
Adelaide,  South  Australia ;  locally  common  in  October. 

179.   Phil,  ancylotoxa,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  saturate  flavis,  vitta  costae  abbreviata,  fasciaque 
postica  incurvata  saturate  fuscis  ;  post,  saturatius  fuscis,  ciliis 
omnino  griseis. 

S.  23-24  mm.  Head  deep  yellow,  face  dark  fuscous.  Palpi 
dark  fuscous,  internally  pale  yellowish.  Antennoe  dark  fuscous, 
Thorax  dark  fuscous,  posterior  margin  and  a  lateral  spot  deep 
yellow.  Abdomen  dark  fuscous.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  posterior 
tibiae  ochreous-yellow.  Forewings  elongate,  costa  moderately 
arched,  apex  round  pointed,  hindmargin  very  oblique,  hardly 
rounded  j  deep  yellow ;  a  strong  dark  fuscous  streak  along  costa 
from  base  to  f ,  posteriorly  attenuated  ;  an  inwards-curved  narrow 
dark  fuscous  fascia  from  costa  at  \  to  before  anal  ang]e  :  cilia 
fuscous-grey.     Hindwings  rather  dark  fuscous  ;  cilia  fuscous-grey. 

Distinguished  from  P.  hiophora  by  the  larger  size,  deep  yellow 
ground  colour,  and  wholly  grey  cilia ;  from  P.  irruj^tella  by  the 
clear  yellow  hindmarginal  space. 

Murrurundi,  New  South  Wales  ;  taken  in  plenty  in  October  by 
Mr.  G.  H.  Eaynor,  to  whom  I  am  indebted  for  my  specimens. 

180.   Phil,  irruptella,  Z. 
{Oecojyhora  irruptella  Z.,  Hor.  Eoss.  1877,  388  (nee.  Walk.) 
Media,   alis  ant.  <?  saturate  flavis,  $  albido-luteis,  vitta  costse 
abbreviata_,  fasciaque  postica  incurvata   aream  griseam  excludente 
saturate  fuscis;  post,  saturatius  fuscis. 

$  ?.  21-24  mm.  Head  orange,  face  dark  fuscous  beneath. 
Palpi  dark  fuscous,  internally  pale  yellowish.  Antennae  dark 
fuscous.  Thorax  dark  fuscous,  posterior  margin  and  a  lateral  spot 
yellowish-orange.  Abdomen  and  legs  dark  fuscous,  posterior  tibise 
ochreous-yellow,  Forewings  elongate,  costa  gently  arched,'  hind- 
margin  oblique,  straight  ;  in  S  yellowish-orange,  in  $  whitish- 
yellow  ;  a  strong  dark  fuscous  streak  along  costa  from  base  to  f , 


476  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    AUSTRALIAN    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

posteriorly  attenuated  :  a  broad  fuscous  hindmarginal  band, 
anterior  edge  convex,  bordered  by  a  narrow  dark  fuscous  fascia 
from  costa  at  J  to  before  anal  angle :  cilia  fuscous.  Hindwings 
rather  dark  fuscous  ;  cilia  fuscous. 

Differs  from  both  the  preceding  by  the  uniform  fuscous  hind- 
marginal  space. 

Sydney  and  Bulli,  New  South  Wales ;  very  common  from 
August  to  October. 

Zeller  mistook  this  species  for  irj^uptella^nlk.,  which  belongs  to 
the  Tmeidce  ;  he  had  not  seen  it,  but  judged  from  the  description. 
Specimens  of  this  species  stand  in  the  British  Museum  collection 
mixed  up  with  arahella  Newm. 

181.     Phil,  chrysojyotama,  n.  sp. 

Major,  alis  ant.  griseis,  vitta  costse  abbreviata  saturate  fusca, 
altera  subcostali  latiore  ochreo-flava  ;  post,  saturatius  f  uscis. 

d^  ?,  24-27  mm.  Head  ochreous-yellow.  Palpi  and  antennae 
dark  fuscous,  thorax  dark  fuscous,  sometimes  with  a  faint 
yellowish  posterior  spot.  Abdomen  dark  fuscous,  anal  tuft 
ochreous-brown.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  posterior  tibiae  ochre- 
ous-yellow. Fore  wings  elongate,  costa  moderately  arched,  apex 
round-pointed,  hindmargin  very  oblique,  almost  straight ;  fuscous- 
grey  ;  a  broad  dark  fuscous  costal  streak  from  base  to  § ; 
very  obliquely  truncate  posteriorly,  leaving  extreme  costal 
edge  whitish-yellow  from  about  5 ;  costal  streak  bordered  beneath 
throughout  by  a  somewhat  broader  deep  ochreous-yellow  streak, 
beneath  which  ground  colour  is  somewhat  darker  :  cilia  fuscous- 
grey.  Hindwings  rather  dark  fuscous ;  cilia  light  ochreous- 
yellow,  round  apex  suffused  with  fuscous-grey. 

An  elegant  and  very  distinct  species. 

Parramatta,  New  South  Wales,  locally  abundant ;  also  from 
Melbourne,  Victoria;  from  August  to  October,  in  shady  grassy 

places. 

182.  Phil,  catascia,  n.   sp. 
Major,  alis  ant.  dilute  griseis,  partim  albido-suffusis,  vitta  costse 
abbreviata  saturatiori ;    post,   saturate    f uscis,    disco    partim   vel 
omnino  flavo-suffuso. 


BY    E.    MEYRICK,    B.A. 


477 


(?  $ .  24-28  mm.  Head  oclireoiis-whitish.  Palpi  dark  fuscous, 
internally  mixed  with  whitish.  Antennae  dark  fuscous.  Thorax 
fuscous-grey.  Abdomen  grey,  anal  tuft  sometimes  paler  and 
ochreous-tinged.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  posterior  tibise  grey.  Fore- 
wings  elongate,  moderate,  costa  moderately  arched,  apex  round- 
pointed,  hindmargin  very  oblique,  almost  straight ;  light  fuscous- 
grey  ;  extreme  costal  edge  whitish  from  near  base  to  |  ;  a  broad 
cloudy  dark  grey  costal  streak  from  base  to  before  |,  posteriorly 
attenuated,  bordered  beneath  by  a  broad  very  ill-defined  whitish 
suffusion ;  a  similar  whitish  sufi*usion  towards  hindmargin,  and  on 
a  spot  before  anal  angle  ;  a  very  indistinct  darker  grey  dot  in  disc 
beyond  middle  :  cilia  whitish  mixed  with  grey.  Hindwings  dark 
fuscous,  disc  generally  more  or  less  suffused  with  ochreous-yellow, 
sometimes  wholly  yellow  with  apex,  costa,  and  inner  margin  dark 
fuscous ;  cilia  grey,  with  a  dark  fuscous  basal  line. 

This  and  the  following  species  agree  in  possessing  yellow  hind- 
wings  ;  in  this  species,  however,  the  yellow  sufi'usion  is  occasionally 
obsolete. 

Melbourne  and  Mount  Macedon,  Victoria  ;  locally  common,  in 
October  and  November. 

183.  Phil,  ellenella,   Newm. 

(Oecophora  ellenella  Newm.,  Trans.  Ent.  Soc.  Lond.^  III.  (n.  s.), 
295,  PL  XVIIL,  3.) 

Media,  alis  ant.  fuscis  ;  post,  ochreo-flavis,  ciliis  griseis. 

Head  and  thorax  fuscous.  Forewings  elongate,  moderate  ; 
fuscous,  without  markings.  Hindwings  yellow  ;  hindmargin  and 
cilia  fuscous-grey. 

I  have  seen  no  specimen  of  this  species,  but  it  is  undoubtedly  a 
Philobota,  and  appears  to  be  quite  distinct,  with  the  forewings 
much  as  in  P.  monolitha.  but  with  yellow  hindwings. 

Said  to  be  from  the  Mount  Alexander  range,  Victoria. 

184.  Phil,  monolitha,  n.  sp. 
Media,  alis  ant.  fuscis ;  post,  saturatius  fuscis. 

i .  23  mm.  Head,  palpi,  antennae,  thorax,  abdomen,  and  legs 
rather  dark  fuscous;  posterior  tibiae  grey.     Forewings  elongate, 


478  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    AUSTRALIAN    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

costa  moderately  arched,  apex  rounded,  hindmargin  very  oblique, 
slightly  rounded  ;  fuscous,  unicolorous  :  cilia  rather  lighter  fuscous. 
Hindwings  rather  dark  fuscous  ;  cilia  fuscous. 

Differs  from  the  preceding  by  the  dark  fuscous  hindwings. 

One  specimen  received  from  Melbourne,  Victoria,  taken  by 
Mr.  G.  H.   Raynor. 

185.  Phil,  catah.miora,  n.  sp. 

Minor,  alis  ant.  ochreo-fuscis,  purpureo-nitidis,  basi  flavo-suffusa, 
costa  media,  dorsoque  augustissime  albido-flavis  ;  post,  griseis. 

$ .  16-17.  mm.  Head  deep  yellow.  Palpi  fuscous,  internally 
and  beneath  pale  ochreous-yellow.  Antennae  dark  fuscous.  Thorax 
ochreous-brown,  with  purple  reflections.  Abdomen  whitish- 
©chreous.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  posterior  tibiae  pale  ochreous-yellow. 
Forewings  elongate,  moderate,  costa  moderately  arched,  apex 
almost  acute,  hindmargin  oblique,  sub-concave  ;  shining  ochreous- 
brown,  with  purple  reflections,  base  suffused  with  deep  yellow  • 
costal  edge  narrowly  whitish-yellow  in  middle  third  ;  inner  margin 
very  narrowly  whitish  yellow  :  cilia  pale  ochreous-fuscous,  becoming 
grey  at  anal  angle.  Hindwings  grey  ;  cilia  ochreous-whitish,  with 
a  grey  line. 

Not  closely  approaching  any  other. 

I  have  two  specimens,  taken  near  Melbourne,  Victoria,  by 
Mr.  G.  H.  Eaynor. 

186.  Phil,  auricejjs,  Butl. 
{Conchylis  arricejys,  Butl.,  Ann.  Mag  ,  N.  H.,  1882,         .) 
Media,  alis  ant,  saturate  flavis,  vitta  subcostali  abbreviata,  altera 
plicse,  puncto  disci,  strigula  anguli  analis  obliqua,   signoque  sub- 
apicali  furcate  saturatius  fuscis,  interdum   partim  obsoletis  ;  post, 
saturatius  fuscis. 

$.  18-22  mm.  Head  deep  orange-yellow,  face  dark  fuscous. 
Palpi  dark  fuscous,  internally  orange-yellow.  Antennae  dark 
fuscous.  Thorax  fuscous,  with  a  more  or  less  distinct  yellow  stripe 
on  each  side  of  back.  Abdomen  whitish-ochreous.  Legs  dark 
fuscous,    hairs    of   posterior  tibiae   whitish-ochreous.       Forewings 


BY    E.  MEYRICK,  B.A.  479 

elongate,  costa  gently  arched,  apex  pointed,  liindmargin  sub- 
concave,  oblique ;  deep  orange-yellow ;  markings  rather  dark 
fuscous,  somewhat  bluish-shining  ;  costal  edge  sometimes  white 
towards  middle  ;  a  rather  narrow  subcostal  streak  from  base  to 
costa  at  I ;  a  rather  narrow  streak  beneath  submedian  fold 
throughout ;  a  dot  in  disc  beyond  middle  ;  an  irregular  oblique 
mark  from  beneath  this  to  anal  angle  ;  a  short  oblique  streak 
from  apex  almost  touching  discal  dot,  and  united  anteriorly  with 
a  short  narrow  longitudinal  streak  from  middle  of  hindmargin ;  all 
these  markings  except  subcostal  and  apical  streaks  sometimes 
obsolete  :  cilia  fuscous.  Hindwings  rather  dark  fuscous ;  cilia 
fuscous. 

Apparently  allied  to  the  preceding,  but  peculiarly  marked. 

Sydney  and  Murrurundi.  New  South  Wales ;  Melbourne,  Vic- 
toria ;  and  the  Mount  Lofty  range,  South  Australia ;  widely 
distributed,  but  not  taken  commonly  anywhere ;  in  October, 
Decembsr,   February,  and  March. 

187.   Phil,  declivis,  Walk. 

( Oecophora  declivisella,  Walk.,  Brit.  Mus.  Cat.,  687.) 

Media,  alis  ant.  albido-luteis,  sericeis,  costa  ochreo-flava,  strigula 
obliqua  ante  apicali,  interdum  etiam  altera  ad  basim  subcostali 
saturate  fuscis  ;  post,  ochreo-flavis,  costa  et  apice  saturate  fuscis. 

$  ?.  20-24  mm.  Head  deep  ochreous-yellow.  Palpi  dark 
fuscous,  internally  pale  ochreous-yellow.  Antennae  dark  fuscous. 
Thorax  whitish-ochreous.  Abdomen  dark  ochreous-yellow.  Legs 
dark  fuscous,  posterior  tibise  ochreous-yellow.  Forewings  elongate, 
rather  narrow,  costa  gently  arched,  apex  round-jjointed,  hindmargin 
very  obliquely  rounded ;  shining  whitish-yellow ;  costal  edge 
ochreous-yellow,  near  base  blackish ;  a  short  oblique  dark  fuscous 
streak  from  costa  just  before  apex,  varying  in  intensity,  reaching 
disc  at  about  |  from  base ,  rarely  a  short  dark  fuscous  streak  from 
base  beneath  costa :  cilia  pale  whitish-fuscous,  with  a  narrow 
whitish-ochreous  apical  bar.  Hindwings  deep  ochreous-yellow, 
costa  and  apex  suffused  with  dark  fuscous  ;  cilia  whitish-yellow. 

Very  distinct  from  any  but  the  following. 


480  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    AUSTRALIAN    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

Sydney  and  Newcastle,  New  South  "Wales  ;  very  common,  in 
September,  November,  and  from  January  to  March,  in  grassy 
places. 

188.  Phil,  molliculella,  Walk. 

( OecoioJiora  moliculella,  Walk.,  Brit.  Mus.  Cat.,  687.) 

Media,  alis  ant.  albido-luteis,  striga  subcostali  abbreviata,  altera 
e  medio  disco  in  costam  ante  apicem  percurrente  saturate  fuscis  ; 
post,  ochreo-flavis. 

$.  23  mm.  Head  and  thorax  pale  yellowish-ochreous.  Palpi 
whitish-ochreous,  externally  suffused  with  dark  fuscous.  Antennae 
dark  fuscous.  Abdomen  whitish-ochreous.  Legs  dark  fuscous, 
posterior  pair  whitish-ochreous.  Forewings  elongate,  rather 
narrow,  costa  gently  arched,  apex  round-pointed,  hindmargin  very 
obliquely  rounded ;  shining  whitish-yellow ;  costal  edge  blackish 
at  base  ;  a  slender  dark  fuscous  streak  beneath  costa  from  base  to 
beyond  middle ;  a  slender  fuscous  streak  from  middle  of  disc  to 
costa  before  apex  :  cilia  pale  whitish-yellow.  Hind  wings  uni- 
colorous  ochreous-yellow  ;  cilia  pale  ochreous-yellow. 

Closely  allied  to  the  preceding,  of  which  it  may  possibly  prove  to 
be  a  local  form ;  characterised  by  the  much  longer  ante-apical 
streak,  the  well-defined  elongate  subcostal  streak,  and  the  wholly 
yellow  hindwings. 

I  have  one  specimen  taken  by  Mr.  G.  H.  Raynor,  near  Melbourne, 
and  there  is  one  in  the  British  Museum,  both  quite  similar. 
189.  Phil   latifissella,  Walk. 

( Oecophora  latifissella,  Walk.,  Brit.  Mus.  Cat,,  686.) 

Media,  alis  ant.  ochreo-flavis,  5  dilutioribus,  vitta  costse  abbre- 
viata, strigulaque  obliqua  anteapicali  saturate  fuscis  ;  post,  fuscis, 
$  basim  versus,  ?  fere  omnino  albido-ochreo  suffusis  ;  humeris 
saturate  fuscis. 

(J  $.  22-25  mm.  Head  deep  ochreous-yellow.  Palpi  whitish- 
ochreous,  externally  suffused  with  dark  fuscous.  Antennae  dark 
fuscous.  Thorax  deep  ochreous-yellow,  with  an  interior  dark 
fuscous  spot  on  each  shoulder.  Abdomen  whitish-ochreous,  anal 
tuft  ochreous-yellow.  Forewings  elongate,  costa  moderately  arched, 


BY    E.  MEYRICK,  B.A.  481 

apex  almost  pointed,  hindmargin  very  oblique,  slightly  sinuate  ; 
ochreous-yellow,  in  ¥  much  paler  ;  a  dark  fuscous  costal  streak 
from  base  to  §,  attenuated  at  base  and  extremity,  leaving  extreme 
costal  edge  ochreous-yellow  except  at  base ;  a  short  slender 
inwardly  oblique  dark  fuscous  line  from  costa  at  5,  sometimes 
obscurely  produced  to  disc ;  cilia  ochreous  yellow,  tips  whitish- 
ochreous,  in  ?  paler.  Hindwings  in  ^  fuscous,  paler  and  suffused 
with  whitish-ochreous  anteriorly,  in  ?  almost  wholly  suffused  with 
whitish-ochreous ;  cilia  pale  ochreous-yellow,  tips  paler. 

Yery  closely  allied  to  the  following  species,  but  broader-winged, 
the  hindwings  lighter  and  more  or  less  suffused  with  whitish- 
ochreous,  and  with  only  a  small  dark  fuscous  spot  on  the  inner 
edge  of  each  shoulder, 

Sydney  and  Wollongong,  New  South  Wales ;  very  common  in 
September  and  October. 

190.  Fhil.   hypocausta,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  saturate  ochreo-flavis,  interdum  partim  fusco- 
suffusis,  vitta  costse  abbreviata,  strigulaque  obliqua  anteapicali 
saturate  fuscis ;  post,  saturatius  fuscis ;  thoracis  dimidio  antico 
saturate  fusco. 

(J.  17-22  mm.  Head  orange-yellow.  Palpi  and  antennae  dark 
fuscous.  Thorax  deep  yellow,  anterior  half,  or  sometimes  wholly, 
suffused  with  dark  fuscous,  Abdomen  whitish-ochreous,  anal  tuft 
yellow.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  posterior  tibiae  ochreous-yellow. 
Foiewings  elongate,  rather  narrow,  costa  slightly  arched,  apex 
round-pointed,  hindmargin  very  obliquely  rounded  ;  deep  ochreous- 
yellow  ;  dorsal  f  sometimes  suffused  with  fuscous ;  a  strong  dark 
fuscous  streak  along  costa  from  base  to  |,  attenuated  posteriorly  ; 
a  short  cloudy  inwardly  oblique  dark  fuscous  streak  from  costa 
before  apex :  cilia  ochreous-yellow,  tips  ochreous- whitish  or 
fuscous,  sometimes  wholly  suffused  with  fuscous.  Hindwings 
rather  dark  fuscous,  sometimes  partially  mixed  with  yellow ;  cilia 
pale  ochreous-yellow. 

Distinguished  from  P.   latifissella  by  the  narrower  wings,  with 
costa  less  arched,  the  deeper  colour  and  tendency  to  suffusion  with 


482  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    AUSTRALIAN    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

dark  fuscous,  and  especially  the  dark  fuscous  anterior  half  of  the 
thorax  ;  these  differences  appear  constant,  bat  it  is  questionable 
whether  they  will  be  found  to  indicate  more  than  a  geographical 
form. 

Adelaide,  South  Australia ;  locally  common  in  October. 

191.  Phil,  crypsichola,  n.  sp. 

Major,  alisant.  dilutissime  albido-ochreis,  vitta  costae  abbreviata 
nigricante  ;  post,  saturatius  griseis. 

(J  ?  .  24-28  mm.  Head  light  yellowish-ochreous  Palpi  dark 
fuscous,  apex  of  second  joint  whitish.  Antennae  dark  fuscous. 
Thorax  ochreous-whitish,  shoulders  more  ochreous,  with  a  dark 
fuscous  interior  spot.  Abdomen  ochreous-whitish,  anal  tuft  light 
yellowish-ochreous.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  hairs  of  posterior  tibiae 
whitish-ochreous.  Fore  wings  elongate,  moderate,  costa  moderately 
arched,  apex  round-pointed,  hindmargin  very  obliquely  rounded  ; 
very  pale  whitish-ochreous,  deeper  towards  costa  posteriorly  ;  a 
strong  blackish-fuscous  streak  along  costa  from  base  to  §,  attenuated 
at  both  extremities ;  a  very  short  fine  black  line  from  base  beneath 
costa  :  cilia  whitish-ochreous,  tips  paler.  Hindwings  dark  grey  ; 
cilia  pale  whitish-ochreous. 

Readily  separated  from  P.  xiphostola  by  the  yellower  head  and 
cilia,  and  especially  by  the  dark  grey  hindwings. 

Blackheath,  New  South  Wales,  at  3,500  feet ;  six  specimens  in 
November. 

192.  Phil,  xiphostola,   n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  ochreo-albidis,  vitta  costse  abbreviata,  interdum 
etiam  strigula  brevissima  obliqua  anteapicali  serieque  punctorum 
marginis  postici  saturate  fuscis;  post,  ochreo-albidis,  vix  griseo- 
tinctis. 

(J.  21-26  mm.  Head  ochreous-whitish.  Palpi  whitish,  second 
joint  externally  dark  fuscous  except  at  apex.  Antennae  dark 
fuscous.  Thorax  ochreous-whitish,  with  a  blackish-fuscous  interior 
spot  on  each  shoulder.  Abdomen  ochreous-whitish,  and  tuft  more 
ochreous.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  posterior  tibiae  pale  whitish-ochreous. 
Forewings  elongate,  moderate,  posteriorly  dilated,  costa  moderately 


BY    E.  MEYRICK,  B.A.  483 

arched,  apex  round-pointed,  hindmargin  very  obliquely  rounded  , 
oclireous-whitisli ;  sometimes  a  few  scattered  fuscous  scales  ;  a 
strong  dark  fuscous  streak  along  costa  from  base  to  f ,  posteriorly 
attenuated ;  sometimes  a  very  short  oblique  dark  fuscous  mark  on 
costa  before  apex,  and  a  hindmarginal  row  of  fuscous  dots,  usually 
absent  ;  cilia  ochreous-whitish.  Hindwings  ochreous-whitish, 
sometimes  greyish-tinged  ;  cilia  ochreous-whitish. 

This  species,  the  preceding,  and  the  two  following  constitute  a 
closely  allied  group ;  P.  xiphostola  differs  from  all  the  other  three 
in  the  more  whitish  fore  wings,  and  very  pale  hindwings. 

Sydney,  New  South  Wales  ;  Melbourne  and  Sale,  Victoria  ; 
tolerably  common  from  September  to  November. 

A  specimen  of  this  species  stands  in  the  British  Museum 
included  under  P.   latifissella. 

193.   Phil,   nephelarcha,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  griseis,  vitta  costse  abbreviata  nigricante,  altera 
subcostali  alba  ;  post,  saturatius  griseis. 

^  ^,  21-25.  Head  pale  whitish -ochreous.  Palpi  dark  fuscous, 
apex  of  second  joint  white.  Antennae  dark  fuscous.  Thorax 
fuscous-grey,  posterior  margin  and  a  small  lateral  spot  obscurely 
whitish.  Abdomen  grey,  anal  tuft  greyish-ochreous.  Legs  dark 
fuscous,  hairs  of  posterior  tibiae  grey.  Fore  wings  elongate,  costa 
gently  arched,  apex  round-pointed,  hindmargin  slightly  rounded, 
very  oblique  ;  brownish-grey  ;  a  narrow  blackish  streak  along  costa 
from  base  to  #,  much  attenuated  anteriorly,  more  suddenly  poste- 
riorly, margined  beneath  throughout  by  a  moderately  broad  ochre- 
ous-white  streak  ;  in  $  this  white  streak  is  bordered  beneath  at 
both  extremities  by  a  short  blackish  line  :  cilia  light  grey,  on  costa 
becoming  more  whitish-ochreous.  Hindwings  rather  dark  grey  • 
cilia  Avhitish-grey,  darker  towards  base. 

Easily  recognisable  by  the  ochreous-white  subcostal  streak  con- 
trasting with  the  grey  ground  colour. 

Deloraine,  Tasmania;  four  specimens  in  JNovember. 
a8 


484  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    AUSTRALIAN    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

194.  Phil.  ])haulosco'pa,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  fusco-albidis,  fusco-sparsis,  vitta  costoe  abbre- 
viata,  strigula  obliqua  anteapioali,  punctis  disci  quinque  serieque 
postica  saturate  fuscis  ;  post,  albido-griseis. 

(J  ?.  24-26  mm.  Head  pale  whitish-ochreous,  in  ?  fuscous- 
tinged.  Palpi  whitish,  second  joint  externally  dark  fuscous 
except  at  apex.  Antennse  dark  fuscous.  Thorax  fuscous- whitish, 
with  a  dark  fuscous  interior  spot  on  shoulder,  in  ?  anteriorly 
suffused  with  fuscous.  Abdomen  ochreous- whitish.  Legs  dark 
fuscous,  hairs  of  posterior  tibiae  very  pale  whitish-ochreous. 
Fore  wings  elongate,  posteriorly  somewhat  dilated,  costa  moderately 
arched,  apex  round-pointed,  hindmargin  very  oblique,  slightly 
rounded  ;  very  pale  whitish-fuscous,  with  scattered  dark  fuscous 
scales ,  a  strong  dark  fuscous  streak  along  costa  from  base  to 
about  |,  posteriorly  very  obliquely  truncate ;  a  minute  blackish 
dot  in  disc  at  J,  a  second  somewhat  beyond  it  on  fold,  two  others 
transversely  placed  beyond  middle,  and  sometimes  another  above 
middle ;  a  short  oblique  dark  fuscous  streak  from  costa  at  5, 
emitting  a  cloudy  strongly  curved  fuscous  line  or  row  of  dots  to 
before  anal  angle ;  a  hindmarginal  row  of  dark  fuscous  dots  ; 
cilia  whitish,  with  two  cloudy  dark  fuscous  lines.  Hind  wings 
Avhitish-grey  ;  cilia  whitish,  with  two  cloudy  grey  lines. 

Closely  allied  to  P.  xi2)hostola,  of  which  it  may  perhaps  be  a 
local  form  ;  distinguished  by  the  fuscous-tinged  ground  colour,  the 
dark  fuscous  irroration,  discal  dots  and  distinct  posterior  line. 

Sydney,  New  South  Wales  ;  tolerably  common  in  September. 

195.   Phil,  crepera.  n.  sp. 

Major,  alis  ant.  dilute  griseis,  vitta  subcurva  subcostali  abbre- 
viata  cana,  spatio  costali  saturatius  fusco,  punctis  disci  quinque 
lineaque  postica  saturate  fuscis  ;  post,  griseis. 

(J  9.  25-29  mm.  Head  white,  mixed  with  grey.  Palpi  and 
antennae  grey.  Thorax  fuscous-grey,  irrorated  with  white  on 
back.  Abdomen  light  grey,  anal  tuft  dull  whitish-ochreons.  Legs 
grey,  posterior  pair  whitish.  Forewings  elongate,  costa  gently 
arched,  apex  round-pointed,  hindmargin  rounded,  very  oblique ; 


BY    E.   MEYRICK,  B.A.  485 

light  grey  or  fuscous,  sometimes  suffused  with  darker ;  a  short 
blackish  mark  at  base  beneath  costa;  a  cloudy  suffused  white 
slightly  curved  longitudinal  streak  from  base  of  costa  to  costa 
at  1^,  the  included  costal  space  rather  dark  fuscous ;  a  dark 
fuscous  dot  in  disc  at  J,  a  second  slightly  beyond  it  on  fold,  a 
third  above  middle,  and  two  transversely  placed  beyond  middle ; 
sometimes  these  are  enlarged  or  indistinct ;  a  curved  obscure  dark 
fuscous  transverse  line  from  f  of  costa  to  anal  angle,  indented 
beneath  costa ;  cilia  whitish,  with  two  obscure  dark  fuscous  lines. 
Hindwings  grey,  base  somewhat  lighter  ;  cilia  grey-whitish. 

•Longer- winged  than  the  allied  species. 

Sydney,  Blackheath  (3500  feet),  and  Mittagong  (2000  feet), 
New  South  Wales ;  not  uncommon,  in  August  and  September, 
and  again  in  March. 

196.  Phil,    acrojjola,  n.  sp. 

Major,  alis  ant.  saturatius  griseis,  vitta  lata  media  in  costam 
prseflexa  cana,  spatio  costali  saturate  fusco ;  post,  fuscis  ;  capite 
luteo. 

(J.  26.31  mm.  Head  light  ochreous-yellowish.  Palpi  dark 
fuscous,  apex  of  second  joint  whitish.  Antennae  fuscous.  Thorax 
ochreous- white,  with  a  dark  fuscous  lateral  stripe.  Abdomen  grey. 
Legs  dark  fuscous,  posterior  tibiae  ochreous-whitish.  Forewings 
elongate,  moderate,  costa  gently  arched,  apex  round-] jointed,  hind- 
margin  hardly  rounded,  oblique ;  rather  dark  fuscous-grey ;  a 
broad  white  somewhat  irregular-edged  streak  from  near  base  in 
middle  to  beyond  middle  of  disc,  thence  narrower  and  bent  up  to 
costa  at  J  ;  costal  space  above  this  dark  fuscous ;  streak  margined 
beneath  with  dark  fuscous  round  angle ;  a  few  whitish  scales 
towards  hind  margin  :  cilia  fuscous-grey.  Hind  wings  fuscous ; 
cilia  light  fuscous. 

Distinguished  at  once  from  both  the  preceding  and  followiug 
species  by  the  yellowish  head,  and  the  white  streak  not  connected 
with  costa  towards  base. 

Fernshaw  and  Mount  Macedon,  Victoria ;  several  specimens  in 
November  and  December. 


486  DESCRIPTIONS    OF   AUSTRALIAN   MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

197.  Phil,  orinoma,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  dilute  griseis,  vitta  lata  media  in  costam 
praeflexa  cana,  basim  prope  cum  costa  connexa,  spatio  costali 
punctisque  disci  plerisque  saturate  fuscis  ;  post,  fuscis  ;  capite 
albido, 

(J.  24  mm.  Head  grey-whitish.  Palpidarkfuscous,  apex  of  second 
joint  whitish.  Antennae  dark  fuscous.  Thorax  dark  fuscous, 
with  a  small  lateral  whitish  spot.  Abdomen  light  grey.  Legs  dark 
fuscous,  hairs  of  posterior  tibise  whitish.  Fore  wings  elongate, 
moderate,  costa  gently  arched,  apex  round-pointed,  hindmargin 
oblique,  slightly  rounded ;  light  fuscous-grey  ;  a  broad  irregular 
white  streak,  somewhat  mixed  with  grey,  from  near  base  to  disc 
beyond  middle,  thence  narrower  and  bent  up  to  costa  at  f ,  connected 
with  costa  near  base  by  a  white  spot ;  included  costal  space,  and  small 
angulated  basal  spot  dark  fuscous  ;  three  blackish  dots  obliquely 
placed  on  white  streak  before  middle,  one  on  upper  edge  in  middle, 
and  a  curved  mark  on  posterior  margin  of  angle ;  a  faint  darker 
angulated  line  towards  hindmargin  ;  a  row  of  obscure  darker  spots 
on  hindmargin  :  cilia  light  fuscous-grey,  basil  half  obscurely 
barred  with  whitish.  Hindwings  fuscous-grey,  lighter  towards 
base  ;  cilia  light  grey. 

Allied  to  F.  crepera,  but  broader-winged,  and  with  the  white 
streak  terminating  in  middle  near  base  but  connected  with  costa 
near  base  by  a  transverse  spot. 

Mount  Macedon,  Victoria  ;  several  specimens  taken  in  December 
by  Mr.  G.  H.  E,aynor,  to  whom  I  am  indebted  for  my  type. 

198.  Fhil.  atmohola,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  cinereis,  vitta  costae  abbreviata,  striga  plicae 
alteraque  dorsi  postice  confluentibus  ochreo-albis,  punctis  disci  sex 
nigris ;  post,  griseis. 

^.  21-25  mm  Head  light  yellow-ochreous.  Palpi  grey, 
interiorly  whitish.  Antennae  dark  grey.  Thorax  grey,  with  a 
small  blackish  spot  on  shoulder,  posterior  extremity  whitish. 
Abdomen  light  grey.  Legs  dark  grey,  hairs  of  posterior  tibise 
pale.     Forewings  elongate,    moderate,    costa    moderately  arched. 


BY    E.  MEYRICK,    B.A.  487 

apex  round-pointed,  hindmargin  oblique,  slightly  rounded  ',  ashy- 
grey  ;  a  moderately  broad  ochreous- white  costal  streak  from  base 
to  I,  posteriorly  obliquely  truncate  ;  a  suifused  ochreous  white 
streak  along  fold  from  about  J,  and  another  along  inner  margin, 
confluent  posteriorly,  and  abruptly  truncate  before  anal  angle ;  a 
black  dot  in  disc  at  ^,  another  directly  beneath  it  on  fold,  a  third 
above  middle,  a  fourth  sometimes  obsolete  slightly  before  middle, 
and  two  others  transversely  placed  beyond  middle  ;  a  hindmarginal 
row  of  blackish  dots :  cilia  whitish-grey,  at  anal  angle  ochreous- 
white.     Hindwings  grey  ;  cilia  whitish-grey. 

An  extremely  distinct  and  elegant  species. 

Deloraine  and  Hobart,  Tasmania ;  rather  common,  from 
November   to   January. 

199,  Phil,  erebodes,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  saturatius  griseis,  punctis  disci  quinque  lineaque 
postica  obsoleta  nigrescentibus  ;  post,  saturatius  griseis ;  capita 
fusco. 

$  ?.  21-25  mm.  Head  palpi,  antennae,  and  thorax  fuscous ; 
mouth  white.  Abdomen  whitish-grey.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  hairs  of 
posterior  tibiae  grey- whitish.  Forewings  elongate,  moderate,  costa 
moderately  arched,  apex  round-pointed,  hindmargin  slightly 
rounded,  very  oblique  ;  rather  dark  fuscous  grey,  with  scattered 
ashy-whitish  scales  ;  a  blackish  dot  in  disc  at  J,  another  beneath  it 
on  fold,  a  third  above  middle,  and  two  others  transversely  placed 
beyond  middle  ;  an  obscure  darker  curved  line  towards  hindmargin, 
indented  beneath  costa ;  a  row  of  obscure  darker  dots  on  hind- 
margin :  cilia  light  fuscous,  base  mixed  with  ashy-whitish.  Hind- 
wings  fuscous-grey,  apex  darker ;  cilia  light  grey. 

Superficially  similar  to  some  of  the  ordinary  forms  of  Eulechria 
and  NephogeneSj  but  the  resemblance  is  in  the  former  case  at  least 
simply  analogous. 

Blackheath  (3,500  feet),  New  South  Wales ;  several  specimens 
in  Januray. 


488  DESCRIPTIONS    OF   AUSTRALIAN    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

200.   Phil,   i^edetis,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alls  ant.  saturate  griseis,  albido-sparsis,  fascia  angusta 
ad  basim  jDunctisque  disci  sex  nigris,  linea  postica  saturatorij 
post,  fuscis  ;  capite  griseo. 

(J.  23-25  mm.  Head,  palpi,  antennse,  and  thorax  grey,  head 
mixed  with  whitish.  Abdomen  grey- whitish,  anal  tuft  greyish- 
ochreous.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  posterior  tibiae  ochreous-whitish. 
Forewings  elongate,  moderate,  costa  moderately  arched,  apex 
rounded,  hind  margin  very  obliquely  rounded ;  dark  grey,  closely 
irrorated  with  whitish  ;  a  narrow  curved  black  fascia  close  to 
base ;  a  double  black  dot  in  disc  at  ^,  another  rather  before  it  on 
fold,  a  third  above  middle,  and  three  placed  in  a  curved  line 
transversely  beyond  middle ;  a  curved  darker  posterior  line, 
indented  beneath  costa ;  a  row  of  obscure  darker  hindmarginal 
dots  :  cilia  grey,  basal  half  with  obscure  darker  and  lighter  spots. 
Hindwings  fuscous-gTey,  apex  darker  ;  cilia  light  grey. 

Very  closely  allied  to  P.  erebodes,  but  distinguished  by  the 
narrow  suffused  black  fascia  close  to  base. 

Wirrabara,  Port  Lincoln,  and  the  Mount  Lofty  range.  South 
Australia  ;  tolerably  common  in  October  and  November. 

201.  Phil,   leucomitra,  n.  sp. 

Major,  alis  ant.  saturatius  griseis,  partim  cano-suffusis,  punctis 
disci  majusculis  sex  nigris,  linea  postica  saturatiori ;  post,  fuscis  ; 
capite  niveo. 

(J  $.  24-28  mm.  Head  white.  Palpi  dark  fuscous,  apex  of 
second  joint  white.  Antennae  dark  fuscous.  Thorax  dark 
fuscous,  with  a  small  white  lateral  spot.  Abdomen  grey.  Legs 
dark  fuscous,  hairs  of  posterior  tibiae  grey  whitish.  Forewings 
elongate,  moderate,  costa  moderately  arched,  apex  rounded,  hind- 
margin  very  obliquely  rounded ;  rather  dark  greyish  fuscous, 
suffusedly  irrorated  with  white  ;  the  absence  of  irroration  causes 
a  darker  streak  along  costa  from  base  to  before  middle,  a  rather 
narrow  fascia  from  costa  beyond  middle  to  anal  angle,  and  a  spot 
on  costa  at  5 ;  a  large  blackish  dot  in  disc  at  J,  another  on  fold 
directly  beneath  it,  a  third  above  middle,  a  fourth  below  middle, 


BY    E.  MEYRICK,  B.A.  489 

and  two  transversely  placed  beyond  middle ;  a  curved  dark 
fuscous  line  from  costal  spot  to  anal  angle  ;  a  row  of  cloudy  dark 
fuscous  hindmarginal  dots  :  cilia  light  fuscous,  basal  half  barred 
with  dark  fuscous.  Hindwings  fuscous,  apex  darker  ;  cilia  light 
fuscous. 

Allied  to  the  two  preceding,  but  immediately  separated  by  the 
clear  white  head,  and  partial  white  suffusion  of  the  forewings. 

Blackheath  (3500  feet),  New  South  Wales  ;  Mount  Wellington, 
Tasmania ;  common,  from  November  to  January. 

202.  Phil,  herodiella,  Feld. 

(^Symmoca  herodiella,  Feld.,  E,eis.  Nov.   PI.   CXL,   31.) 

Media,  alis  ant.  niveis,  fasciis  quattuor  rectis,  tertia  costam  non 
attingente,  macula  costse  media  elongata  alteraque  apicis  parva 
saturate  fuscis  ;  post,  fuscis. 

(J  ?.  20-25  mm.  Head  white.  Palpi  dark  fuscous,  second 
joint  white  internally  and  at  apex.  Antennae  dark  fuscous. 
Thorax  white,  anterior  margin  suffusedly  dark  fuscous.  Abdomen 
grey.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  hairs  of  posterior  tibise  grey-whitish. 
Forewings  elongate,  moderate,  costa  moderately  arched,  apex 
round-pointed,  hindmargin  very  obliquely  rounded  ;  snow-white, 
markings  dark  fuscous  ;  four  straight  transverse  fasciae,  first  near 
base,  second  before  middle,  third  beyond  middle,  not  reaching 
costa,  fourth  a  little  before  apex,  attenuated  beneath  and  bent 
towards  anal  angle ;  an  elongate-triangular  narrow  blotch  along 
middle  third  of  costa,  confluent  with  second  fascia  ;  a  small  apical 
spot,  produced  along  hindmargin  ;  cilia  whitish,  with  an  obscure 
fuscous  line.     Hindwings  fuscous-grey  ;  cilia  light  fuscous. 

Conspicuously  distinct. 

Blackheath  (3500  feet),  New  South  Wales  ;  Fernshaw,  Victoria ; 
and  the  Mount  Lofty  range.  South  Australia  ;  common,  from 
November  to  January. 

203.  Phil,  haijula,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  canis,  fusco-sparsis,  punctis  disci  tribus,  striga 
anguli  analis  obliqua,  lineaque  postica  ochreo-fuscis  ;  post,    fuscis. 


490  DESCRIPTIONS    OP    AUSTRALIAN    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

(J  ?.  18-21  mm.  Head  pale  whitish-ochreous.  Palpi  dark 
fuscous,  second  joinfc  ochreous- whitish  internally  and  at  apex. 
Antennge  dark  fuscous.  Thorax  fuscous,  posteriorly  whitish. 
Abdomen  whitish-grey,  anal  tuft  whitish-ochreous.  Legs  dark 
fuscous,  posterior  tibipe  ochreous  whitish.  Fore  wings  elongate, 
costa  gently  arched,  apex  round-pointed,  hindmargin  very  obliquely 
rounded  ;  white,  with  scattered  greyish-ochreous  or  fuscous  scales ; 
markings  ochreous  or  ochreous-fuscous  ;  a  large  dot  in  disc  before 
middle,  a  second  rather  beyond  it  on  fold,  and  a  small  one  above 
middle  ;  an  oblique  streak  from  disc  beyond  middle  to  anal  angle  ; 
a  cloudy  curved  line  near  hindmargin,  sharply  indented  beneath 
costa :  cilia  pale  greyish  or  fuscous,  base  mixed  with  white. 
Hindwings  fuscous-grey  ;  cilia  light  grey. 

Not  nearly  resembling  any  other. 

Blackheath  (3,500  feet),  New  South  Wales  ;  common  in  January, 
2C4.  Phil,  glaucoptera,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  canis,  vitta  costse  abbreviata  utrimque  attenuata, 
altera  media  in  costam  praeilexa,  punctis  disci  quinque,  linea 
postica  maculaque  apicis  fuscis  ;  post,  albido-fuscis. 

^  ?.  19-22  mm.  Head  white.  Palpi  white,  second  joint 
externally  dark  fuscous  except  at  apex.  Antennae  whitish.  Thorax 
white,  anterior  edge  and  a  spot  on  shoulders  fuscous.  Abdomen 
ochreous-whitish.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  posterior  tibiae  ochreous- 
whitish.  Forewings  elongate,  costa  gently  arched,  apex  round- 
pointed,  hindmargin  very  obliquely  rounded  ;  white,  markings 
fuscous  or  ochreous-fuscous ;  a  streak  along  costa  from  near  base 
to  |,  attenuated  at  both  ends  ;  a  moderately  broad  central  longi- 
tudinal streak,  anteriorly  curved  up  to  base  of  costa,  posteriorly 
narrowed  and  curved  up  to  costa  at  I ;  two  dots  transversely  placed 
before  middle,  one  above  middle,  and  two  beyond  middle,  generally 
partly  obsolete  ;  a  curved  posterior  line,  confluent  above  with 
median  streak  ;  a  cloudy  apical  spot  :  cilia  whitish,  mixed  with 
pale  ochreous-grey.  Hindwings  whitish-fuscous,  apex  darker ; 
cilia  grey- whitish. 

Also  a  somewhat  peculiar  species. 

Sydney,  New  South  Wales ;  common  in  March. 


BY    E.   MEYRICK,   B.A.  491 

205.  Phil,  partitella,  Walk. 
{Oeco2:)hora partitella,  Walk.,  Brit.  Mus.  Cat.  683.) 

Media,  alis  ant.  canis,  fascia  ad  basim,  vitta  costae  abbreviata 
iitrimque  attenuata,  macula  dorsi  cum  punctis  disci  tribus  connexa, 
linea  postica  maculaque  apicis  saturate  fuscis  ;  post,  griseis,  basim 
versus  flavido-tinctis  ;  capite  flavo. 

(J  $.  19-22  mm.  Head  ochreous-yellow.  Palpi  dark  fuscous, 
terminal  joint  and  apex  of  second  whitish.  Antennse  dark 
fuscous.  Thorax  ochreous-white,  with  a  dark  fuscous  spot  on 
shoulder.  Abdomen  whitish-ochreous,  anal  tuft  more  yellow. 
Legs  dark  f  ascous,  posterior  tibiae  whitish-ochreous.  Forewings 
elongate,  moderate,  costa  gently  arched,  apex  round-pointed, 
hindmargin  obliquely  rounded  ;  white,  sometimes  ochreous-tinged  ; 
a  straight  dark  fuscous  fascia  close  to  base ;  a  broad  dark  fuscous 
streak  along  costa  from  near  base  to  f,  attenuated  to  both  ends, 
connected  with  a  discal  dot  before  middle  ;  an  irregular  fuscous 
blotch  on  inner  margin,  connected  with  a  dark  fuscous  dot  on  fold, 
and  two  transversely  placed  in  disc  beyond  middle  ;  a  curved  dark 
fuscous  line  from  costa  at  5  to  anal  angle  ;  indented  beneath  costa, 
its  extremities  connected  by  a  direct  fuscous  shade ;  a  cloudy 
fuscous  apical  spot  :  cilia  light  fuscous,  base  mixed  with  white. 
Hind  wings  grey,  becoming  yellowish  towards  base ;  cilia 
yellowish. 

A  handsome  and  distinct  insect. 

Sydney  and  Blackheath  (3,500  feet),  New  South  Wales  :  locally 
abundant  in  October. 

206.  Phil,  creiacea,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  canis,  plicse  basi,  vitta  costse  abbreviata  basim 
non  attingente,  strigis  duabus  parallelis  perobliquis  e  disco  in 
costam  percurrentibus,  lineaque  postica  ochreis ;  post,  albido- 
griseis. 

(J  9.  19-22  mm.  Head  ochreous-yellow.  Palpi  whitish, 
second  joint  dark  fuscous  externally  except  at  apex,  Antennae 
whitish.  Thorax  white,  with  a  fuscous  spot  on  shoulder. 
Abdomen  whitish-ochreous,  anal  tuft  more  yellowish.     Legs  dark 


1^ 


492  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    AUSTRALIAN    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

fuscous,  posterior  tibise  whitish-ochreous.  Forewings  elongate, 
moderate,  costa  gently  arched,  apex  rounded,  hindmargin  very 
obliquely  rounded  ;  white ;  a  small  blackish  mark  at  base  of 
costa  ]  markings  brownish-ochreous ;  an  indistinct  streak  on  fold 
at  base ;  a  rather  narrow  streak  along  costa  from  near  base  to  f ; 
a  narrow  streak  from  disc  before  middle  to  posterior  extremity  of 
costal  streak  ;  two  dots  transversely  placed  in  disc  beyond  middle, 
connected  by  an  oblique  streak  with  costa  before  apex ;  a  fine 
curved  line  near  hindmargin  :  cilia  light  ochreous-yellowish. 
Hindwings  whitish-grey,  yeJlowish-tinged  towards  base,  apex 
grey ;  cilia  light  ochreous-yellowish. 

This  and  the  following  species  are  closely  allied  together,  and 
have  a  decicled  affinity  to  P.  partitella  ;  P.  cretacea  difiers  by  the 
costal  streak  not  reaching  base,  the  first  oblique  streak  also  not 
nearly  reaching  base,  the  usually  distinct  posterior  line,  and 
yellower  cilia. 

Newcastle  and  Sydney,  New  South  Wales ;  very  common  in 
September  and  October. 

207.  Phil,    calamaea,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  canis,  vitta  costas  abbreviata,  strigis  duabus 
parallelis  perobliquis,  prima  e  basi,  altera  e  disco  in  costam 
percurrentibus,  ochreo-fuscis  ;  post,  griseis. 

(J  $.  20-25  mm.  Head  ochreous-yellow  or  whitish-yellow. 
Palpi  whitish,  second  joint  externally  dark  fuscous  except  at  base 
and  apex.  Antennae  whitish.  Thorax  white,  with  a  small  dark 
fuscous  spot  on  shoulder.  Abdomen  pale  whitish-ochreous.  Legs 
dark  fuscous,  posterior  tibiae  whitish-ochreous.  Forewings  elongate, 
moderate,  costa  gently  arched,  apex  rounded,  hindmargin  very 
obliquely  rounded ;  white  ;  a  small  dark  fuscous  mark  at  base 
of  costa  ;  markings  ochreous-fuscous  ;  a  narrow  streak  along  costa 
from  base  to  ^  ;  a  narrow  streak  from  middle  of  base  to  posterior 
extremity  of  costal  sti-eak,  much  attenuated  towards  base ;  two 
faint  dots  in  disc  beyond  middle ;  a  streak  from  upper  dot  to  costa 
before  apex  :  cilia  pale  whitish-ochreous.  Hindwings  grey,  base 
yellowish-tinged  pale  ;  cilia  whitish-ochreous. 


BY    E.  MEYRICK,  B.A.  493 

Nearly  allied  to  P.  cretacea  ;  but  both  the  costal  and  the  first 
oblique  streaks  are  produced  to  base,  the  discal  dots  are  fainter, 
the  posterior  line  absent,  the  markings  darker,  and  hindwings 
greyer. 

Toowoomba  (2000  feet),  Queensland  ;  common  in  September. 

208.  Phi/,  monogramma,  n.   sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  niveis,  partim  ochreo-venosis,  vitta  subcostali 
abbreviata  strigaque  obliqua  a  disco  in  costam  percurrente  saturate 
fuscis ;  post,  griseo-albidis. 

(J.  20-22  mm.  Head,  palpi,  antennae,  thorax,  abdomen,  and 
legs  white.  Forewings  elongate,  costa  gently  arched,  apex  round- 
pointed,  hindmargin  extremely  oblique,  slightly  rounded  ;  white^ 
indistinctly  streaked  with  greyish  ochreous  between  veins ;  a 
slender  dark  fuscous  streak  beneath  costa  from  base  to  f,  apex 
fainter  ;  a  slender  dark  fuscous  streak  close  beyond  this  from  disc 
beyond  middle  to  costa  at  f  ;  cilia  white,  mixed  with  pale  greyish, 
ochreous.     Hindwings  very  pale  whitish-gey ;  cilia  grey-whitish. 

Allied  to  the  following,  but  smaller,  the  dark  streak  subcostal 
and  not  reaching  beyond  |,  followed  by  an  oblique  streak. 

Adelaide,  South  Australia  ;  four  specimens  in  October. 

209.   Phil,  agnesella,  Newm. 

{Oecophora  agnesella  Newm.,  Trans.  Ent.  Soc.  Lond.  Ill  (n.s.), 
297.) 

Media,  alis  ant.  niveis,  vitta  supra  medium  e  basi  in  apicem 
percurrente,  postice  inferius  leviter  trifurcata ;  post,  albidogriseis. 

(J.  25  mm.  Head  and  antennae  white.  Palpi  white,  second 
joint  dark  fuscous  except  at  apex.  Thorax  white,  becoming 
grey  on  back.  Abdomen  whitish.  Legs  dark  grey,  posterior 
tibise  whitish.  Forewings  elongate,  costa  gently  arched,  apex 
round-pointed,  hindmargin  very  obliquely  rounded  ;  white, 
slightly  suffused  with  pale  ochreous ;  extreme  base  of  costa 
blackish  ;  a  narrow  fuscous  longitudinal  streak  above  middle  from 
base  to  apex,  somewhat  dilated  beyond  middle,  posteriorly  indistinct 
and  tending  to  be  trifurcate;  cilia  ochreous- white.  Hindwings 
whitish-grey,  darker  towards  apex  ;  cilia  whitish. 


494  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    AUSTRALIAN    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

Allied  to  preceding,  but  easily  recognisable 
Melbourne,  Victoria  ;  two  specimens  in  October. 

210.  Phil,  chionoptera^  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  niveis,  vitta  costEO  angusta  utrimque  attenuata 
ochrea  vel  fusca,  ?  linea  media  e  basi  in  apicem  percurrente 
ochrea,  ciliis  niveis  ;  post,  albido-griseis. 

(J.  20-22  mm.,  $.  24-26  mm.  Head,  palpi,  antennae,  thorax, 
abdomen,  and  legs  white.  Forewings  elongate,  costa  moderately 
arched,  apex  round-pointed,  hindmargin  very  obliquely  rounded  ; 
snow-white;  a  slender  costal  streak,  in  ^  rather  dark  fuscous, 
in  ?  ochreous,  from  near  base  to  near  apex,  finely  attenuated 
towards  base  ;  in  $  an  indistinct  brownish-ochreous  longitudinal 
median  line  from  base  to  apex  :  cilia  white.  Hindwings  whitish- 
grey,  in  (J  sometimes  rather  darker  ;  cilia  whitish. 

In  colouring  the  $  nearly  resembles  the  same  sex  of  P.  pro- 
ductella,  but  may  be  immediately  separated  by  the  much  more 
arched  costa,  and  wholly  white  cilia  of  the  forewings  ;  the  females 
of  the  two  species  are  however,  markedly  dissimilar  both  from 
the  males  and  from  each  other,  nor  are  the  species  in  fact  closely 
allied. 

Newcastle,  New  South  Wales  ',  locally  abundant  in  January. 

211.  Phil,  hydara,  n.   sp. 

Major,  alis  ant.  $  latiusculis,  ?  longis,  dilute  griseis,  $  partim 
oano-suffusis,  punctis  disci  quinque  obsoletis  saturate  fuscis  ;  post. 
$  albido-griseis,   ?  saturatiiis  griseis. 

(J.  24-27  mm.,  $  29-35  mm.  Head,  palpi,  antennae,  thorax, 
and  abdomen  whitish,  in  ?  greyish-tinged.  Legs  dark  grey, 
posterior  tibise  whitish.  Forewings  in  $  moderate,  suboblong, 
in  ?  elongate,  costa  moderately  arched,  apex  round-pointed,  hind- 
margin  very  obliquely  rounded  ;  in  ^  grey-whitish,  irrorated  with 
ochreous-grey,  in  ^  grey,  with  scattered  dark  fuscous  scales  ; 
inner  margin  and  a  streak  beneath  costa  from  base  to  middle  very 
suffusedly  and  indistinctly  darker  ;  an  indistinct  dark  fuscous  dot 
in  disc  at  ^,  a  second  beneath  it  on  fold,  a  third  above  middle,  and 


BY    E.   MEYRICK,  B.A.  495 

two  transversely  placed  at  f ;  cilia  grey-whitish  ;  in  9  with  two 
grey  lines.  Hind  wings  in  (J  light  fuscous-grey,  paler  towards 
base,  in  9  darker  fuscous-grey  ;  cilia  grey  whitish,  in  ^  with  two 
grey  lines. 

The  (J  stands  peculiarly  characterised  in  the  genus  by  the  rather 
broad  suboblong  forewings,  and  does  not  at  all  approach  P.  pro- 
diictella  ;  but  the  ^  closely  resembles  the  same  sex  of  P.  productella 
both  in  form  and  colour. 

Duaringa,  Queensland  ;  eight  specimens  received  from  Mr.  G. 
Barnard. 

212.   Phil,  pruinosa,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  elongatis,  niveis,  vitta  costse  suffusa  abbreviata, 
fascia  angusta  ad  basim,  punctis  disci  quattuor,  strigula  anguli 
analis  lineaque  postica  saturate  fuscis  ;  post,  griseis. 

(J  9.  17  20  mm.  Head  white  or  yellowish-white.  Palpi 
white,  second  joint  dark  fuscous  externally  except  at  apex. 
Antennae  grey.  Thorax  white,  with  a  dark  fuscous  spot  on 
shoulder.  Abdomen  whitish-ochreous,  anal  tuft  more  yellowish. 
Legs  dark  fuscous,  posterior  tibiae  ochreous-whitish.  Forewings 
elongate,  rather  narrow,  costa  moderately  arched,  apex  pointed, 
hindmargin  extremely  obliquely  rounded  ;  white ;  an  ill-defined 
blackish  fascia  close  to  base  ;  a  short  blackish  streak  from  this 
beneath  costa,  merged  in  a  dark  fuscous  sufi'usion  along  costa  from 
:j  to  f  ;  inner  and  hind  margins  strewn  with  dark  fuscous  scales  ; 
a  small  dark  fuscous  spot  in  disc  before  middle,  a  second  obliquely 
before  it  on  fold,  and  a  third  between  these,  sometimes  all 
confluent ;  a  fourth  above  middle,  a  fifth  below  and  beyond 
middle,  and  three  others  generally  confluent  into  an  oblique 
streak  from  disc  to  anal  angle;  a  dark  fuscous  line  from  costa 
at  5  to  hindmargin  above  anal  angle,  indented  above  middle  :  cilia 
whitish,  becoming  ajrey  towards  tips.  Hind  wings  grey,  base  paler ; 
cilia  pale  whitish-ochreous,  sometimes  partially  greyish. 

A  rather  peculiar  species,  probably  somewhat  allied  to  P. 
productella,  but  differing  from  all  the  neighbouring  species  in  the 
dark  fuscous  fascia  near  base. 


496  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    AUSTRALIAN    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

Brisbane,  Queensland ;  Sydney,  New  South  Wales ;  very 
common  in  September  and  October. 

213.  Phil,  squalidella,   n.  sp. 

Minor,  alis  ant.  angusfcis,  ochreo-albis,  oclireo-mixtis,  raaculis 
costse  tribus  parvis,  punctis  disci  tribus,  quarto  anguli  analis, 
maculaque  ante  apicem,  transversa  nigricantibus ;    post,  griseis. 

$.  14-17  mm.  Head  ochreous- white.  Palpi  white,  externally 
irrorated  with  blackish.  Antennae  whitish-fuscous.  Thorax 
ochreous-white,  mixed  with  pale  ochreous.  Abdomen  ochreous- 
whitish.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  ringed  with  ochreous-white,  posterior 
tibiae  ochreous- whitish.  Fore  wings  elongate,  narrow,  costa 
slightly  arched,  apex  round-pointed,  hindmargin  extremely 
obliquely  rounded ;  ochreous-white,  irregularly  mixed  and  suffused 
with  light  ochreous,  and  with  a  few  blackish  scales;  a  small 
blackish  spot  at  base  of  costa,  another  at  ^,  and  a  larger  triangular 
spot  in  middle  of  costa ;  a  black  dot  in  disc  at  ^,  a  second 
obliquely  before  it  on  fold,  a  third  in  disc  at  §,  and  a  fourth 
on  inner  margin  before  anal  angle  ;  an  irregular  blackish  fascia- 
like blotch  from  costa  before  apex  to  middle  of  hindmargin  :  cilia 
whitish-ochreous,  finely  irrorated  with  grey,  basal  half  narrowly 
barred  with  blackish.  Hind  wings  grey,  base  paler ;  cilia  whitish, 
irrorated  with  grey. 

Abnormal  in  the  genus  from  its  small  size  and  very  narrow 
wings  ;  it  seems  however  to  be  a  member  of  the  group  of  P. 
productella,  dwarfed  by  unfavourable  conditions ;  easily  recognised 
by  the  costal  spots. 

Melbourne,  Victoria  ;  Hobart,  Tasmania  ;  several  specimens  in 
December. 

214.  Phil,  lyfoductella,    Walk. 

{Oecophora  productella,  Walk.,  Brit.  Mus.  Cat.  688  ;  Oecoi^hoia 
griseicostella,  Z.,  Hor.  Boss.  1877,  395.) 

Major,  alis  ant.  elongatis,  ^  niveis,  9  griseo-suffusis,  vitta 
costse  angusta  utrimque  attenuata,  interdum  etiam  punctis  disci 
plerisque  lineaque  postica  saturate  fuscis,  ciliis  griseo-mixtis  ', 
post,  griseis. 


BY    E.  MEYRIOf,  B.A  497 

(J.  23-26  mm,,  9.  25-35  mm.  Head,  palpi,  antennae,  thorax, 
and  abdomen  white,  sometimes  partially  suffused  with  grey,  anal 
tuft  ochreous-whitish.  Legs  dark  grey,  posterior  pair  white. 
Forewings  elongate,  rather  narrow,  costa  in  ^  hardly  arched, 
in  9  gently,  apex  round-pointed,  hindmargin  extremely  obliquely 
rounded;  w^hite,  sometimes  slightly  mixed  with  grey,  in  ^  more 
or  less  wholly  suffused  with  light  fuscous  grey;  costa  slenderly 
dark  fuscous  from  base  to  near  apex  ;  sometimes  a  dark  fuscous 
dot  in  disc  beyond  middle  ;  in  $  sometimes  also  a  dark  fuscous 
dot  on  fold  before  middle,  several  other  scattered  discal  dots,  and 
an  indistinct  line  towards  hindmargin,  indented  beneath  costa  : 
cilia  ochreous-whitish,  mixed  with  grey.  Hindwings  grey,  base 
paler ;  cilia  whitish,  with  a  suffused  grey  line  towards  base. 

Variable  to  some  extent ;  the  dotted  form  of  the  $  does  not 
appear  to  occur  in  New  South  Wales,  but  is  equally  common  with 
the  ty^De  in  Victoria  and  South  Australia ;  every  intermediate 
stage  is  found. 

Sydney,  New  South  Wales  ;  Melbourne  and  Mount  Macedon, 
Victoria;  Mount  Gambler,  Adelaide,  Petersburg,  and  Port 
Lincoln,  South  Australia ;  generally  abundant  in  dry  grassy 
places,  from  October  to  January. 

215.   Phil,  tyroxantha,  n.  sp. 

Major,  alls  ant.  $  dilute  flavis,  9  dilute  stramineis,  ciliis 
marginis  postici  griseis ;  post,  saturatius  griseis  ;  thorace  dilute 
flavo. 

(J,  23-25  mm.,  9.  33  mm.  Head  and  thorax  light  ochreous- 
y allow.  Palpi  light  ochreous-yellow,  second  joint  dark  fuscous 
externally  except  at  apex.  Antennae  yellowish.  Abdomen  pale 
whitish-ochreous.  Legs  dark  grey,  posterior  tibiae  ochreous- 
whitish.  Forewings  elongate,  costa  moderately  arched ;  apex 
round-pointed,  hindmargin  very  obliquely  rounded  ;  in  $  light 
ochreous-yellow,  in  9  very  pale  whitish-yellowish  ;  extreme  costal 
edge  blackish  towards  base  :  cilia  grey,  on  costa  and  at  apex 
becoming  yellowish.     Hindwings  rather  dark  grey  ;  cilia  grey. 


498  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    AUSTRALIAN    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

The  (J  is  very  similar  to  the  two  following  species,  but  easily 
recognised  by  the  wholly  yellow  thorax  ;  the  9  closely  approaches 
that  of  P.  productella.  in  form,  but  differs  in  colour. 

Murrurundi,  New  South  Wales  :  three  specimens  in  November. 
216,   Phil,  melirrhoa,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  dilute  flavis,  ciliis  marginis  postici  griseis  ;  post, 
saturate  griseis  ;  thoracis  dimidio  antico  saturate  griseo. 

(J.  22-26  mm.  Head  light  ochreous-yellow.  Palpi  light 
yellow,  second  joint  dark  fuscous  externally  except  at  apex. 
Antennae  pale  yellowish.  Thorax  light  ochreous-yellow,  anterior 
margin  suffusedly  dark  fuscous.  Abdomen  light  ochreous-yellow. 
Legs  dark  grey,  posterior  tibiae  ochreous- whitish.  Fore  wings 
elongate,  moderate,  costa  moderately  arched,  apex  round-pointed, 
hindmargin  almost  straight,  oblique  ;  rather  light  ochreous-yellow  ; 
extreme  costal  edge  blackish  towards  base  ;  cilia  grey,  on  costa 
light  yellow.     Hind  wings  dark  grey  ;  cilia  grey. 

Readily  distinguishable  from  P.  tyroxantha  by  the  dark  fuscous 
anterior  half  of  thorax ;  from  P.  crocohapta  by  the  yellow  costal 
edge. 

Murrurundi,  New  South  Wales  ;  common  in  November. 

Although  this  species  and  the  preceding  are  very  similar,  it  is 
questionable  whether  they  are  in  fact  very  closely  allied 
217.  Phil.    crocohajJta,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  flavis,  margine  costali  cillisque  saturate  griseis  : 
post,  saturate  griseis  ;  thoracis  dimidio  antico  saturate  griseo. 

(J  9.  20-23  mm.  Head  light  ochreous-yellow.  Palpi  light 
yellow,  second  joint  externally  dark  grey.  Antennae  pale  grey. 
Thorax  light-ochreous  yellow,  anterior  half  dark  grey.  Abdomen 
ochreous-yellow,  basal  third  dark  grey.  Legs  dark  grey,  posterior 
tibiae  whitish  yellow.  Forewings  elongate,  costa  moderately 
arched,  apex  round-pointed,  hindmargin  very  oblique,  slightly 
rounded ;  ochreous-yellow  ;  costal  edge  narrowly  dark  grey  :  cilia 
wholly  dark  grey.     Hind  wings  dark  grey ;  cilia  dark  grey. 

Closely  allied  to  P.  melirrhoa,  but  immediately  separable  by  the 
dark  grey  costal  edge ;  the  dark  grey  basal  band  of  the  yellow 
abdomen  is  a  curious  special  characteristic. 


BY    E.  MEYRICK,  B.A.  499 

Port  Lincoln,  South  Australia ;  locally  common  in  October  and 

November. 

218.  Phil,  pretiosella,  Walk. 

(Psecadia  pretiosella,  Walk.,  Brit.  Mus.  Cat.,  538.) 

Media,  alls  ant.  flavis,  margine  costali  nigra,  vitta  costee  abbre- 
viata  argentea,  altera  subcostali  rubra,  ciliis  roseis  ;  post,  griseis. 

(J  9.  23-26  mm.  Head  and  palpi  yellow,  partly  suffused  with 
red.  Antennse  whitish-grey.  Thorax  yellow;  anterior  half  suffused 
with  red.  ii.bdomen  pale  whitish-ochreous.  Legs  dark  grey, 
middle  femora  reddish,  posterior  legs  ochreous-whitish.  Fore  wings 
elongate,  moderate,  costa  moderately  arched,  apex  round-pointed, 
hindmargin  almost  straight,  oblique ;  bright  yellow ;  extreme 
costal  edge  blackish  from  base  to  *  ;  a  silvery-white  costal  streak 
from  base  to  5,  margined  beneath  by  a  red  streak,  almost  reaching 
apex  :  cilia  rosy,  becoming  grey  at  anal  angle.  Hindwings  grey  ; 
cilia  light  grey,  round  apex  pale  rosy,  towards  anal  angle  more 
yellowish. 

A  singularly  beautiful  and  conspicuous  species. 

Sydney  and  Blackheath  (3,500  feet),  New  South  Wales  ;  Mel- 
bourne, Victoria  :  and  the  Mount  Lofty  Range,  South  Aus- 
tralia ;  in  October  and  November,  very  generally  distributed,  but 
apparently  nowhere  common. 

219.  Phil,  anachorda,  n.  sp. 

Major,  alis  ant.  dihitissime  stramineis,  vitta  supra  medium  e 
basi  in  apicem  percurrente  saturate  fusca,  utrimque  niveo-mar- 
ginata ;  post,  griseis, 

(J  9.  26-29  mm.  Head  yellow.  Palpi  yellowish-white,  second 
joint  externally  dark  fuscous.  Antennae  pale  grey.  Thorax  pale 
yellow,  anterior  margin  broadly  dark  fuscous.  Abdomen  ochreous- 
whitish.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  posterior  pair  ochreous- white.  Fore- 
wings  elongate,  moderate,  costa  moderately  arched,  apex  round- 
pointed,  hindmargin  slightly  sinuate,  oblique;  very  pale  whitish - 
yellow  ;  a  straight  longitudinal  dark  fuscous  streak  above  middle 
from  base  to  apex,  margined  on  both  sides  with  white  :  cilia  grey, 
at  tips  and  round  apex  whitish,  on  costa  pale  yellow.  Hindwings 
grey,  base  paler ;  cilia  ochreous-whitish,  base  more  ochreous. 
a9 


500  DESCRIPTIONS    OF   AUSTRALIAN   MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

A  fine  and  distinct  species. 

Blackbeath  (3500  feet),  new  South  Wales ;  rather  common  in 
October  and  November,  seeming  to  be  attached  to  Banksia. 

220.  Phil.  adaptatelU,  Walk. 

(Oecophora  adaptatella,  Walk.,  Brit.  Mus.  Cat.  689  ;  Oecophora 
pt'Oj^riella,  ibid.  691.) 

Media,  alis  ant.  flavis,  vitta  costali  nivea,  altera  subcostali 
saturate  rufa,  inferius  niveo-marginata,  signo  disci  postico  angulato 
fusco  j  post,  griseis. 

(J  2.  22-27  mm.  Head  yellow.  Palpi  white,  second  joint 
externally  dark  fuscous.  Antennae  whitish.  Thorax  dark 
fuscous,  posterior  margin  narrowly  pale  yellow.  Abdomen 
whitish-yellowish.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  posterior  pair  whitish- 
yellowish.  Forewings  elongate,  moderate,  costa  moderately 
arched,  apex  round  pointed,  hindmargin  faintly  sinuate,  oblique ; 
bright  yellow,  deeper  and  more  ochreous  posteriorly  ;  a  snow- 
white  costal  streak  from  base  almost  to  apex,  beneath  which 
is  a  broad  dark  reddish-ochreous-brown  streak  reaching  to  apex, 
margined  beneath  by  a  suffused  snow-white  streak,  becoming- 
obsolete  towards  extremities ;  an  irregular  angulated  suffused 
fuscous  mark  in  disc  beyond  middle,  sometimes  partially  obsolete, 
apex  pointing  to  anal  angle  :  cilia  dark  grey,  becoming  white 
at  tips  and  round  apex,  yellowish  on  costa.  Hindwings  grey, 
apex  darker,  base  paler  and  yellowish-tinged ;  cilia  whitish- 
yellowish. 

Allied  to  the  preceding,  but  conspicuously  distinct, 

Brisbane,  Queensland ;  Sydney,  Blackheath  (3500  feet),  and 
Shoalhaven,  New  South  Wales ;  common  from  September  to 
January,  certainly  attached  to  Banksia. 

221.   Phil,  h^ochosema,  n.  sp. 

Major,  alis  ant.  niveis,  vitta  subcostali,  altera  infra  medium, 
ciliisque  saturate  fuscis  ;  post,  griseis. 

(J.  27  mm.  Head  yellow.  Palpi  dark  fuscous,  internally 
whitish.  Antennse  dark  fuscous.  Thorax  dark  fuscous,  with  a 
small  white  lateral  spot.     Abdomen  whitish-ochreous.     Legs  dai'k 


BY    E.   MEYRICK,  B.A.  501 

fuscous,  posterior  tibiae  wliitisli-oclireous.  Forewings  elongate, 
costa  moderately  arched,  apex  round- pointed,  hindmargin  faintly- 
sinuate,  very  oblique ;  snow-white ;  a  rather  broad  dark  fuscous 
subcostal  streak  from  base  to  apex  ;  a  similar  streak  from  inner 
margin  near  base  to  middle  of  hindmargin,  produced  upwards 
to  apex  :  cilia  fuscous-grey,  tips  paler.  Hindwings  grey,  tinged 
with  whitish-ochreous,  especially  towards  base ;  cilia  whitish- 
ochreous. 

Not  to  be  confused  with  any  other. 

Mount  Lofty  range.  South  Australia ;  one  specimen  in  October. 

222.  Phil,  interlineatella,  Walk. 

{Oecophora  interlineatella,  Walk.,  Brit.  Mus.  Oat.  692.) 

Media,  alis  ant.  niveis,  vitta  costse  angusta,  altera  supra 
medium,  tertia  dorsi,  lineola  plicae,  striga  transversa  postica 
lineaque  marginis  postici  ochreo-fuscis  ;  ]Dost.  griseis. 

(J  9.  18-22  mm.  Head  ochreous-yellow  or  pale  whitish- 
ochreous.  Palpi  dark  fuscous,  internally  white.  Antennae 
whitish-grey.  Thorax  ochreous-brown,  posterior  margin  narrowly 
snow-white.  Abdomen  whitish-ochreous.  Legs  dark  grey, 
posterior  pair  pale  whitish-ochreous.  Forewings  elongate,  costa 
gently  arched,  apex  round-j)ointed,  hindmargin  sinuate,  very 
oblique;  snow-\vhite;  markings  ochreous-brown  ;  a  slender  costal 
streak  from  base  to  near  apex,  very  finely  attenuated  anteriorly  ; 
a  straight  moderately  broad  longitudinal  streak  above  middle 
from  base  to  apex  ;  a  streak  along  inner  margin  from  base  to  anal 
angle,  attenuated  at  extremities  ;  a  narrow  streak  from  this  to 
median  streak,  near  and  parallel  to  hindmargin  ;  a  short  linear 
mark  on  fold  before  middle,  sometimes  confluent  with  dorsal 
streak  j  a  narrow  interrupted  line  on  hindmargin  :  cilia  fuscous. 
grey,  with  a  suffused  white  bar  beneath  and  another  above  apex. 
Hindwings  grey  ;  cilia  ochreous-whitish,  with  an  indistinct  grey 
line. 

A  handsome  species,  allied  to  the  two  following,  but  without 
the  anterior  fascia. 


502  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    AUSTRALIAN    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

Sydney  and  Blackheath  (3,500  feet),  New  South  Wales  ;  Mel- 
bourne, Victoria ;  Port  Lincoln,  South  Australia  ;  locally  rather 
common,  from  October  to  December. 

223.   Phil,  hracteatella.  Walk. 

(Oecophora  hracteatella,  Walk.,  Brit.  Mus.  Cat.  696.) 

Media,  alis  ant.  argenteis,  margine  costali,  vitta  supra  medium ^ 
strigula  dorsi  ad  basim,  fasciis  duabus  angulatis  saepius  in  plica 
connexis,  lineaque  marginis  postici  rufis  ;  post,  griseis. 

$  ^.  18-22  mm.  Head  ochreous-yellow.  Palpi  dark  fuscous, 
internally  white.  Antennae  whitish.  Thorax  white,  anterior  half 
and  a  posterior  spot  dark  reddish-fuscous.  Abdomen  pale  whitish- 
ochreous.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  posterior  pair  whitish-ochreous. 
Forewings  elongate,  moderate,  costa  moderately  arched,  apex 
round-pointed,  hindmargin  slightly  sinuate,  oblique ;  silvery- 
white  ;  markings  rather  dark  reddish-ochreous-brown  ;  costal  edge 
dark  fuscous  ;  a  straight  streak  above  middle  from  base  to  apex, 
sometimes  interrupted  at  J,  dark-margined  near  base,  lower  margin 
with  a  short  tooth  beyond  middle ;  a  narrow  streak  along  basal  \  of 
inner  margin  ;  two  narrow  transverse  fasciee,  angulated  outwards  on 
median  streak,  first  before  middle,  second  beyond  middle,  first 
with  a  projecting  tooth  from  posterior  edge  along  fold,  often 
reaching  lower  extremity  of  second  ;  a  narrow  dentate  streak  along 
hindmargin  :  cilia  white,  on  apex  and  anal  angle  grey.  Hind- 
wings  grey,  paler  and  tinged  with  whitish-ochreous  towards  base ; 
cilia  pale  whitish-ochreous,    becoming  ochreous-yellow  round  apex. 

This  and  the  following  species  are  closely  allied,  and  at  first 
sight  extremely  similar ;  P.  hracteatella  may  however  be  at  once 
distinguished  by  the  short  tooth  from  lower  margin  of  median 
streak  not  being  produced  to  unite  with  second  fascia,  and  by  the 
presence  of  the  streak  from  first  fascia  along  fold. 

Sydney  and  Blackheath  (3,500  feet),  New  South  Wales ;  Mel. 
bourne,  Victoria  ;  Albany,  West  Australia;  locally  common,  from 
November  to  March. 


BY    E.  MEYRICK,  B.A.  503 

224.  Phil,  trijugella,  Z. 
(Oecophora  trijugella,  Z.,  Hor.  Ross.  1877,  391,  PI.  Y.,  136.) 

Media,  alis  ant.  argenteis,  margine  costali,  vitta  supra  medium, 
altera  dorsi  angusta,  fasciis  duabus,  alterius  parte  inferior!  discum 
versus  bifurcata,  lineaque  marginis  postici  rufis  ;  post,  griseis. 

$.  19-22  mm.  Head  ochreous-yellow.  Palpi  dark  fuscous, 
intei-nally  whitish.  Antennae  whitish.  Thorax  white,  anterior 
half  and  a  posterior  spot  dark  reddish-fuscous.  Abdomen  pale 
whitish-ochreous.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  posterior  pair  whitish-ochre- 
ous.  Forewings  elongate,  moderate,  costa  gently  arched,  apex 
almost  acute,  hindmargin  slightly  sinuate,  oblique  ;  silvery-white  ; 
markings  leddish-ochreous-brown  ;  costal  edge  dark  fuscous ;  a 
strait  streak  above  middle  from  base  to  apex  :  a  narrow  streak 
along  inner  margin  throughout,  interrupted  at  |^ ;  a  narrow  some- 
what bent  transverse  fascia  before  middle ;  a  bar  from  costa 
beyond  middle  to  median  streak ;  a  streak  rather  near  and 
parallel  to  hindmargin  from  inner  margin  to  median  streak  ;  a  bar 
from  median  streak  beyond  middle  to  this  streak  above  lower 
extremity  ;  a  slender  dentate  streak  along  hindmargin  :  cilia  white, 
somewhat  mixed  with  grey,  on  apex  and  anal  angle  fuscous-grey. 
Hindwings  grey  ;  cilia  whitish-ochreous,  with  a  grey  basal  line, 
more  yellowish  round  apex. 

Differs  from  P.  hracteatella  by  the  oblique  bar  from  median 
streak  to  second  fascia,  the  slender  dark  streak  along  inner  margin 
throughout,  the  absence  of  the  streak  on  fold,  and  the  disconnection 
of  the  upper  and  lower  portions  of  the  second  fascia. 

Sydney,  New  South  Wales  ;  not  uncommon,  in  November  and 
December. 

225.    Phil,    acutella,  Walk. 

(Oecophora  acutella,  Walk.,  Brit.  Mus.  Cat.  1031.^ 

(J.  21  mm.  Head  and  thorax  yellow.  Forewings  silvery- 
white,  with  two  ochreous-brown  longitudinal  streaks  connected  at 
base ;  first  near  costa,  emitting  from  lower  edge  a  spot  and 
two   posterior   streaks,    of   which   the  first  is  acutely    angulated 


504  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    AUSTRALIAN    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

inwards,  the  second  oblique  ;  second  longitudinal  streak  including 
a  short  white  line  near  base.  Hind  wings  grey,  towards  base 
yellowish-tinged. 

I  saw  this  species  in  the  British  Museum  (a  very  poor 
specimen),  and  noted  it  as  new  and  allied  to  P.  bracteatella, 
but  omitted  to  describe  it ;  the  above  description  (doubtless 
inaccurate)  is  interpreted  from  Walker. 

West  Australia. 

226.  Phil,  aurmatella,   Walk. 

[Oecojyhora  aurinatelta,  Walk.,  Brit.  Mus.  Cat.  693.) 

Media,  alis  ant.  apice  acuto,  saturate  flavis,  macula  disci  parva 
transversa  ciliisque  saturate  griseis  ;  post,  saturate  fuscis. 

$  ^.  18-22  mm.  Head  deep  yellow.  Palpi  yellow,  externally 
dark  fuscous  except  at  base.  Antennae  yellowish.  Thorax  deep 
yellow,  suffused  in  middle  with  dark  grey.  Abdomen  whitish- 
ochreous.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  posterior  tibiae  whitish-yellow. 
Forewings  elongate,  moderate,  posteriorly  dilated,  costa  mode- 
rately arched,  apex  almost  acute,  hindmargin  almost  straight, 
oblique  ;  deep  yellow  ',  a  small  transverse  blackish-grey  spot  in 
disc  beyond  middle ;  cilia  dark  grey,  base  mixed  with  blackish. 
Hind  wings  dark  fuscous  ;  cilia  dark  grey. 

Readily  distinguished  from  P.  inonoiyha'es  by  the  discal  spot, 
from  P.  xantJbiella  by  the  almost  acute  apex  of  the  forewings. 

Sydney  (rarely),  Mittagong   (2000  feet)  and  Blackheath  (3500 

feet),   New   South   Wales  ;  locally   abundant   from  November  to 

January. 

227.  Phil.  mono2)haes,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.,  saturate  flavis,  ciliis  saturate  griseis;  post, 
saturate  fuscis. 

(J  9.  18-22  mm.  Head  and  thorax  deep  orange-yellow.  Palpi 
yellow,  paler  internally.  Antennae  pale  yellowish.  Abdomen 
whitish-ochreous,  anal  tuft  yellow.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  posterior 
tibiae  ochreous- whitish.  Forewings  elongate,  moderate,  posteriorly 
dilated,  costa  moderately  arched,  apex  round-pointed,  hindmargin 
sinuate,  oblique  ;  deep  orange-yellow ;  cilia  dark  grey,  with  a  black 
basal  line.     Hindwings  dark  fuscous  ;  cilia  dark  grey. 


BY    E.  MEYRICK,  B.A.  505 

A  splendid  species,  distinguished  from  its  allies  by  the  total 
absence  of  marking,  and  the  intensity  of  colour. 

Blackheath  (3500  feet).  New  South  Wales ;  rather  common  in 
November. 

228.  Phil,    euxantha,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  dilutius  flavis,  puncto  disci  duplici  saturate 
f usco,  ciliis  angulum  analem  versus  griseis ;  post,  saturate  griseis. 

(J  9,  19-22  mm.  Head  and  thorax  yellow.  Palpi  yellow, 
terminal  joint  whitish.  Antennae  whitish.  Abdomen  whitish- 
yellow.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  posterior  tibiae  whitish-yellow.  Fore- 
wings  elongate,  moderate,  costa  moderately  arched,  apex  obtuse, 
hindmargin  obliquely  rounded ;  rather  light  yellow  ;  a  faint 
double  fuscous  dot  in  disc  beyond  middle  :  cilia  light  yellow, 
becoming  grey  on  anal  angle.  Hindwings  dark  grey ;  cilia 
whitish-ochreous,  mixed  with  grey. 

Allied  to  P.  xanthiella,  but  lighter  yellow,  with  the  discal  spot 
represented  only  by  a  faint  double  dot. 

Melbourne,  Victoria  ;  Launceston,  Tasmania  ;  three  specimens 
in  January. 

229.  Phil,  xanthiella,  Walk. 
{Oecophora  xanthiella,  Walk.,  Brit.  Mus.  Cat.  693.) 

Media,  alis  ant.  apice  rotundato,  saturate  flavis,  macula  disci 
transversa,  ciliisque  angulum  analem  versus  saturate  griseis; 
post,  saturate  griseis. 

(5  9.  17-22  mm.  Head,  palpi,  and  thorax  deep  yellow,  terminal 
joint  of  palpi  whitish.  Antennae  whitish.  Abdomen  whitish- 
yellow.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  posterior  tibise  light  yellow.  Fore- 
wings  elongate,  moderate,  costa  moderately  arched,  apex  obtuse, 
hindmargin  obliquely  rounded  ;  deep  yellow ;  a  transverse  dark 
fuscous  variable  spot  in  disc  beyond  middle,  sometimes  fascia-like 
and  nearly  reaching  both  margins ;  cilia  yellow,  becoming  dark 
grey  towards  anal  angle.  Hindwings  dark  grey ;  cilia  varying 
from  whitish-ochreous  to  grey. 


506  DESCRIPTIONS    OF   AUSTRALIAN    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

"Varies  considerable  in  the  development  of  the  discal  spot,  which 
is  however  always  strongly  marked  ;  the  larger  forms,  with  spot 
approaching  a  fascia,  are  characteristic  of  lower  and  warmer 
regions,  and  at  first  sight  appear  distinct,  but  there  is  no  constant 
point  of  difference. 

Sydney  and  Blackheath  (3,500  feet),  New  South  Wales; 
Melbourne,  Victoria;  Mount  Lofty  Eange,  South  Australia; 
common,   from   November  to  March. 

230.  Phil,  bimaculana,    Don. 

(Tortrix  bimaculana^  Don.,  Ins.  New  Holland;  Oecophora 
himacuUlla  Newm.,  Trans.  Ent.  Soc.  Lond.,  III.  (n.  s.),  295  ; 
Oecophora  bimaculana  Walk.  Brit.  Mus.  Cat.,  657,  Feld.  Reis. 
Nov.  PI.  CXXXVIII.,  48.) 

Media,  alis  ant.  flavis,  basi,  fascia  media  latiore  sinuata,  altera 
etiam  marginis  postici  angusta  ciliisque  saturate  fuscis,  purpureo- 
suffusis  ;  post,  saturate  fuscis. 

$  9.  20-23  mm.  Head  yellow.  Palpi  dark  fuscous,  internally 
yellow.  Antennae  whitish.  Thorax  dark  purple-fuscous.  Abdomen 
fuscous,  anal  tuft  yellow.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  posterior  tibiae 
yellow.  Forewings  elongate,  moderate,  costa  gently  arched,  apex 
rounded,  hindmargin  slightly  sinuate,  oblique ;  bright  yellow ; 
markings  dark  fuscous,  irrorated  and  sufiused  with  purple,  except 
on  edges  ;  a  narrow  basal  fascia  ;  a  rather  broad  fascia  from  middle 
of  costa  to  beyond  middle  of  inner  margin,  somewhat  dilated 
beneath,  both  margins  sinuate  ;  a  narrow  fascia  along  hindmargin, 
extremities  attenuated  :  cilia  fuscous-grey,  suffused  with  purple  at 
base.     Hindwings  dark  fuscous ;   cilia  fuscous-grey. 

A  handsome  and  distinct  species. 

Duaringa  and  Brisbane,  Queensland  ;  Newcastle,  Sydney,  Black- 
heath  (3,500  feet),  and  Shoalhaven,  New  South  Wales  ;  Mount 
Lofty,  South  Australia  ;  and  I  have  seen  a  normal  specimen  from 
New  Guinea  :  generally  common  amongst  Eucalyptus,  flying  freely 
in  the  sunshine. 


BY    E.  MEYRICK,  B.A.  507 

231.  Phil,  tentatella,  Walk. 
(Oecophora  tentatella.  Walk.,  Brit.  Mus.   Cat.,  685.) 

Media,  alis  ant.  flavis,  basi,  triangulo  anguli  analis  cum  fascia 
marginis  postici  angiista  connexa  purpureis,  nigrescenti-marginatis  ; 
post,  griseis. 

9.  20-21  mm.  Head  light  yellow.  Palpi  whitish,  second  joint 
externally  dark  fuscous.  Antennae  grey-whitish.  Thorax  dark 
purple-fuscous.  Abdomen  pale  whitish-ochreous.  Legs  dark 
fuscous,  posterior  tibiae  pale  whitish-ochreous.  Forewings  elongate, 
costa  moderately  arched,  apex  round-pointed,  hindmargin  almost 
straight,  oblique ;  bright  yellow ;  base  purple-fuscous ;  costal 
edge  very  slenderly  dark  fuscous  towards  base  ;  an  erect  triangular 
reddish-purple  spot  on  inner  margin,  edged  with  dark  fuscous, 
reaching  more  than  half  across  wing,  confluent  at  base  with  a 
rather  narrow  reddish-purple  irregularly  dark-margined  streak 
along  hindmargin  from  apex  to  anal  angle  :  cilia  light  yellow,  on 
apex  and  anal  angle  dark  grey.  Hindwings  grey,  apex  darker ; 
cilia  pale  whitish-ochreous,  mixed  with  grey. 

A  beautiful  insect,  recalling  Coesyra,  with  which  it  has  probably 
real  relationship. 

Blackheath  (3,500  feet),  New  South  Wales  ;  two  specimens  in 
January. 

232.  Phil,  occidua,  n.   sp. 

Minor,  alis  aut.  albido-ochreis,  punctis  disci  tribus,  strigula 
anguli  analis  erecta,  lineaque  marginis  postici  purpureo-roseis  ; 
post,   griseo-albidis. 

(J  9.  13-15  mm.  Head,  palpi,  antennae,  and  thorax  whitish- 
ochreous.  Abdomen  grey-whitish,  anal  tuft  whitish-ochreous. 
Legs  dark  fuscous,  middle  tibiae  reddish  tinged,  posterior  tibiae 
whitish-ochreous.  Forewings  elongate,  moderate,  costa  moderately 
arched,  apex  almost  rectangular,  hindmargin  almost  straight, 
oblique ;  whitish-ochreous,  sometimes  irrorated  with  carmine  ;  a 
purplish-carmine  dot  in  disc  before  middle,  another  on  fold 
slightly   beyond  it,  and  a  third  in  disc  beyond  middle ;  an  erect 


508  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    AUSTRALIAN    MICRO-LEPtDOPTERA, 

pnrple-carmine  streak  from  anal  angle,  reaching  half  across  wing  ; 
a  purple-carmine  streak  along  hind-margin  :  cilia  whitish-ochreous, 
tips  whitish.  Hind  wings  grey- whitish^  greyer  posteriorly  ;  cilia 
grey-whitish. 

The  smallest  species,  characterised  by  its  rosy  markings. 

Sydney  and  Mittagong  (2000  feet),  New  South  Wales  ;  several 
specimens  in  February  and  March. 

233.    Phil,   homotona,  n.   sp. 

Minor,  alis  ant.  ochreis,  punctis  disci  tribus  serieque  postica 
nigris,  macula  supra  angulum  analem  grisea  ;  post,  ochreo-albidis. 

^.  16  mm.  Head,  palpi,  antennae,  and  thorax  light  brownish- 
ochreous.  Abdomen  pale  whitish-ochreous.  Legs  dark  fuscous, 
posterior  tibiae  pale  whitish-ochreous.  Fore  wings  elongate, 
moderate,  costa  moderately  arched,  apex  rounded,  hindmargin 
almost  straight,  oblique ;  pale  brownish-ochreous  ;  extreme  costal 
edge  blackish  near  base ;  a  blackish  dot  in  disc  before  middle, 
another  on  fold  beyond  it,  and  two  almost  confluent  in  disc 
beyond  middle  ;  a  cloudy  grey  spot  above  anal  angle ;  a  row 
of  cloudy  blackish  dots  near  and  parallel  to  hindmargin :  cilia 
whitish-ochreous,  with  a  faint  fuscous  line,  tips  whitish.  Hind- 
wings  ochreous-whitish,  margin  greyish  ;  cilia  ochreous-whitish 
with  an  indistinct  grey  line. 

Very  similar  to  some  forms  of  Eulechria,  as  E.  convictella  and 
its  allies. 

Bulli,  New  South  Wales ;  one  specimen  in  October. 
234.   Phil,  melanoploca,  n.  sp. 

]Media,  alis  ant.  fusco-albidis,  strigis  plerisque  inter  venas  inter- 
ruptis  saturate  f  uscis,  serie  maculorum  postica  nigrescentium ; 
post,  dilate  griseis. 

$.  19  mm.  Head,  palpi,  antennas,  thorax,  and  abdomen  grey- 
whitish  ;  shoulders  dark  fuscous ;  second  joint  of  palpi  mixed 
externally  with  dark  fuscous.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  posterior  pair 
whitish.  Forewings  elongate,  moderate,  costa  gently  arched,  apex 
rounded,  hindmargin  almost  straight,  oblique  ;  very  pale  whitish- 
fuscous,    with    some   scattered   dark    fuscous   scales ;    all    spaces 


BY    E.   MEYRICK,  B.A.  509 

between  veins  indicated  by  cloudy  broadly  interrupted  dark 
fuscous  streaks,  sprinkled  with  black  ;  a  row  of  cloudy  blackish 
spots  on  veins  near  hindmargin  :  cilia  fuscous-whitish.  Hind- 
wings  pale  grey  ;  cilia  grey- whitish,  with  a  cloudy  grey  line. 

Easily  known  by  the  intervenal  streaks. 

Sydney,  ]New  South  Wales  ;  one  specimen  in  March. 

235.  Phil.   ^J26feerea,  n.  sp. 

Minor,  alis  ant.  ochreo-albidis,  griseo-conspersis,  punctis  disci 
tribus  serieque  postica  saturate,  fuscis  ;  post,  dilute  griseis. 

9.  16-17  mm.  Head  and  antenna?  grey-whitish.  Palpi 
whitish,  second  joint  externally  dark  fuscous  except  at  apex. 
Thorax  grey-whitish,  irrorated  with  grey.  Abdomen  ochreous- 
whitish.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  posterior  pair  ochreous-whitish- 
Forewings  elongate,  somewhat  dilated,  costa  slightly  arched,  apex 
round-pointed,  hindmargin  almost  straight,  oblique ;  ochreous- 
grey- whitish,  coarsely  irrorated  with  rather  dark  grey ;  a  dark 
fuscous  dot  in  disc  before  middle,  another  slightly  beyond  it  on 
fold,  and  two  sometimes  confluent  in  disc  beyond  middle  :  a  row 
of  dark  fuscous  dots  near  and  parallel  to  hindmargin :  cilia  ochreous- 
whitish,  irrorated  with  grey.  Hind  wings  pale  grey  ;  cilia  whitish^ 
with  a  faint  grey  line. 

Characterised  by  the  dark  grey  irroration. 

Brisbane,  Queensland ;  two  specimens  in  September. 

236.  Phil,  electrodes,  n.  sp. 
Minor,  alis  ant.  saturate  flavis  ;  post,  saturate  griseis. 

^  9.  17-1'^  mm.  Head,  palpi,  antennae,  and  thorax  deep 
yellow.  Abdomen  whitish-yellow.  Legs  yellow.  Forewings 
elongate,  somewhat  dilated,  costa  very  slightly  arched,  apex 
round-pointed,  hindmargin  somewhat  concave,  oblique ;  deep 
yellow  :  cilia  deep  yellow.     Hindwings  dark  grey  ;  cilia  grey. 

Apparently  allied  to  P.  imlverea,  but  much  more  gaily  coloured. 

Murrurundi,  New  South  Wales ;  several  specimens  in  November. 
36.  Leistomorpha,  Meyr. 

Head  loosely  haired^  sidetufts  moderate,  loose,  meeting  above, 
slightly  projecting.  Antennae  in  (J  somewhat  serrate,  moderately 
and  evenly   ciliated   (1),   basal  joint  stout,    with   well-developed 


510  DESCRIPTIONS    OF   AUSTRALIAN    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

pecten.  Pal])!  moderate  or  long,  second  joint  exceeding  base  of 
antennse,  densely  scaled,  almost  smooth,  terminal  joint  shorter  than 
second,  slender,  recurved.  Thorax  smooth.  Forewings  elongate, 
moderate,  hindmargin  obliquely  rounded.  Hind  wings  rather 
narrower  than  forewings,  elongate-ovate,  hindmargin  rounded, 
cilia  f^.  Abdomen  moderate.  Middle  tibiae  much  thickened  with 
dense  rough  hairs  ;  posterior  tibiae  clothed  with  dense  long  hairs. 
Forewings  with  vein  7  to  hindmargin,  2  from  angle  of  cell. 
Hindwings  normal. 

Differs  from  Philobota  principally  by  the  dilated  hairs  of  the 
middle  tibise ;  the  exact  affinity  of  the  genus  is  at  present  some- 
what uncertain.  The  second  species  is  only  known  in  the  <^,  and 
its  position  here  is  therefore  not  assured.  Both  recall  some  forms 
of  Peltophora. 

la.  Head  dark  fuscous 237.  brontoscopa 

lb.       ,,     yellow  ...  238.   ochrocausta 

237.   Leist.  brontoscopa,  n.  sp. 

Minor,  alis  ant.  saturate  fuscis,  signo  anguli  analis  antice  cano- 
marginato,  interdum  etiam  punctis  disci  tribns  saturatioribus  ; 
post,  saturate  fuscis,  costa  dilute  ilavido-suffusa. 

$  9-  13-16  mm.  Head,  antennae,  thorax,  and  abdomen  dark 
fuscous.  Palpi  dark  fuscous,  becoming  pale  whitish-yellow 
towards  base  ;  second-joint  in  ^  extremely  elongate.  Legs  dark 
fuscous,  posterior  pair  whitish-yellow.  Forewings  elongate,  costa 
gently  arched,  apex  rounded,  hindmargin  very  obliquely  rounded  ; 
dark  fuscous,  generally  finely  sprinkled  with  whitish  or  ochreous- 
whitish  ;  sometimes  a  small  darker  spot  in  disc  before  middle, 
a  second  on  fold  beneath  it,  and  a  third  beyond  middle,  usually 
obsolete ;  a  darker  fuscous  erect  mark  on  anal  angle,  preceded 
by  some  white  scales,  more  distinct  in  9  :  cilia  dark  fuscous, 
beneath  anal  spot  white,  tips  beneath  apex  whitish-ochreous. 
Hindwings  dark  fuscous,  costa  suffusedly  whitish-yellow  ;  cilia 
pale  whitish-yellow,  towards  base  becoming  fuscous. 

Not  to  be  mistaken,  though  inconspicuous. 


BY    E.   MEYRICK,  B.A.  511 

Blackbeatli,  (3,500  feet),  New  South  Wales  ;  Sale,  Victoria ; 
and  Launceston,  Tasmania  ;  common  in  October  and  November, 
flying  in  the  sunshine,  but  liable  to  be  overlooked  from  its  dark 
colour  and  rapid  flight. 

238.  Leist.  (J)  ochrocausta,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  ochreis,  dorsum  versus  leviter  purpureo- 
micantibus,  costa  flava,  triangulo  anguli  analis  saturate  griseo  ; 
post,  ochreo-fuscis,  margine  postico  saturate  fusco. 

9.  22  mm.  Head  ochreous-yellow.  Palpi  dark  fuscous,  base 
and  apex  of  second  joint  whitish.  Antennae  grey.  Thorax 
brownish-ochreous,  somewhat  purple-shining.  Abdomen  yellowish- 
fuscous.  Anterior  legs  dark  fuscous  (middle  and  posterior  pair 
broken).  Fore  wings  elongate,  suboblong,  costa  bent  at  ^,  gently 
arched,  apex  rounded,  hindmargin  oblique,  slightly  rounded  ; 
ochreous,  lighter  towards  costa,  deeper  and  somewhat  purple- 
shining  towards  inner  margin ;  costal  edge  ochreous-yellow ;  a 
dark  fuscous  triangular  spot  on  anal  angle  :  cilia  ochreous, 
becoming  dark  grey  on  anal  angle,  whitish-yellow  beneath  it. 
Hindwings  ochreous-fuscous,  hindmargin  broadly  suffused  with 
dark  fuscous  ;  cilia  grey,  darker  round  apex. 

This  species  is  only  placed  here  provisionally ;  the  middle  legs 
are  broken,  and  the  $  is  unknown. 

Melbourne,  Victoria  ;  one  specimen  received  from  Mr.  G.  H. 
Raynor. 

37.    CoMPSOTROPHA,   Moyr. 

Head  smooth,  sidetuf  ts  moderate,  spreading.  Antennae  moderate, 
in  (J  with  dense  rather  long  fine  cilia  (2-3),  basal  joint  stout, 
without  pecten.  Palpi  moderate,  second  joint  reaching  or 
exceeding  base  of  antennae,  with  appressed  scales,  terminal  joint 
shorter  than  second,  slender,  recurved.  Thorax  smooth.  Fore- 
wings  elongate,  moderate,  hindmargin  obliquely  rounded.  Hind- 
wings  almost  as  broad  as  forewings,  oblong-ovate,  hindmargin 
I'ounded,  cilia  J  to  ^.  Abdomen  moderate.  Middle  tibiae  some- 
what thickened  with  dense  hairs ;  posterior  tibi^  clothed  with 
long  fine  airs,  Forewings  with  vein  7  to  hindmargin,  2  from 
before  angle  of  cell.     Hindwings  normal. 


512  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    AUSTRALIAN    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA. 

Distinguished  from  Philohota  (from  the  last  group  of  which  it 
may  probably  be  a  development)  by  the  longer  cilia  of  the 
antenuEe,  and  absence  of  basal  pecten.  The  three  species  are  very 
similar  and  nearly  allied,  resembling  some  forms  of  Eulechria. 

la.  Hindwings  pale  yellow 239.  selenias 

lb.  ,,  fuscous. 

2a.  Thorax  anteriorly  dark  fuscous 240.  strophiella 

2b.         „       wholly  ochreous- whitish   241.   charidotis 

239.    Comijs.  selenias,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  dilute  albido-griseis,  macula  dorsi  ad  basim, 
punctis  disci  tribus,  tertio  duplici,  fasciaque  antemarginali  nigre- 
gcentibus  ;  post,  dilute  flavis. 

(J.  16-22  mm.  Head  ochreous- white.  Palpi  ochreous  white, 
second  joint  with  an  oblique  blackish  median  band.  Antennae 
white,  annulated  with  dark  fuscous.  Thorax  light  grey,  with  a 
transverse  blackish  stripe  before  middle.  Abdomen  whitish- 
yellow.  Legs  dark  fuscous,  tarsal  joints  with  ochreous-whitish 
apical  rings ;  posterior  tibiae  whitish-yellow.  Forewings  elongate, 
posteriorly  dilated,  costa  gently  arched,  apex  rounded,  hindmargin 
obliquely  rounded ;  pale  whitish-grey ;  costal  edge  ochreous- 
whitish,  becoming  black  near  base  ;  a  small  black  spot  on  inner 
margin  near  base  ;  a  large  black  dot  in  disc  at  ^,  a  second  beyond 
it  on  fold,  connected  with  inner  margin  by  a  grey  spot,  and 
two  transversely  placed  and  confluent  in  disc  beyond  middle ; 
an  irregular  dark  fuscous  fascia  from  costa  at  \  to  before  anal 
angle,  dilated  below  middle ;  a  row  of  blackish  dots  on  hind- 
margin  :  cilia  grey-whitish,  becoming  grey  towards  base  and  on 
anal  angle.  Hindwings  pale  yellow  ;  cilia  pale  yellow,  becoming 
grey  around  apex. 

Immediately  recognisable  by  the  pale  yellow  hindwings ;  it 
also  diflfers  from  both  the  other  species  by  the  greyish  tinge  of  the 
forewings,  and  the  small  dark  spot  on  inner  margin  near  base. 

Sydney  and  Blackheath  (3500  feet),  new  South  Wales  ;  two 
specimens  in  October,  of  which  that  from  the  mountains  is 
considerably  the  larger. 


BY    E.   MEYRICK,  B.A.  513 

240.   Com2?s.  strophiella,  n.  sp. 

Minor,  alls  ant.  oclireo-albidis,  punctis  disci  duobus  cum  dorso 
per  strigulam  connexis,  tertio  duplici,  fasciaque  postica  saturate 
fuscis  ;  post,  fuscis ;  tliorace  antice  fusco. 

(^  9-  13-17  mm.  Head  ochreous- whitish.  Palpi  ochreous- 
white,  second  joint  with  an  oblique  dark  fuscous  median  band. 
Antennae  ochreous-white,  annulated  with  dark  fuscous.  Thorax 
ochreous-wLitish,  anterior  margin  svifFused  with  dark  fuscous. 
Abdomen  ochreous-whitish.  Anterior  legs  dark  fuscous,  tarsi 
ringed  with  ochreous-white  ;  middle  and  posterior  legs  ochreous- 
whitish,  middle  tarsi  grey  towards  base  of  joints.  Fore  wings 
elongate,  moderate,  costa  gently  arched,  apex  round-pointed,  hind- 
margin  almost  straight,  oblique  ;  ochreous-whitish  ;  extreme  costal 
edge  dark  fuscous  near  base  ;  a  blackish-fuscous  dot  in  disc  before 
middle,  and  a  second  beyond  it  on  fold,  connected  by  a  fuscous 
shade  which  extends  to  inner  margin  ;  two  others  transversely 
placed  and  confluent  in  disc  beyond  middle ;  a  dark  fuscous  fascia 
from  costa  at  5  to  before  anal  angle,  dilated  below  middle ;  a  row 
of  dark  fuscous  dots  along  hindmargin  :  cilia  ochreous-whitish, 
beneath  anal  angle  grey.  Hindwings  fuscous-grey,  in  ^  somewhat 
ochreous-tinged  towards  base  ;  cilia  grey. 

This  and  the  following  species  are  very  similar  ;  C.  strophiella  is 
characterised  by  the  fuscous  hindwings,  slightly  ochreous-tinged  in 
the  9  only,  the  two  anterior  discal  dots  less  oblique  and  connected 
by  a  streak  extending  to  inner  margin,  the  posterior  fascia  more 
remote  from  hindmargin,  and  the  thorax  anteriorly  suffused  with 
fuscous. 

Sydney,  New  South  Wales ;  not  uncommon,  in  October, 
November,  and  April. 

241.   Gomps.  charidotis,  n.  sp. 

Minor,  alls  ant.  ochreo-albidis,  punctis  disci  tribus,  tertio  duplici, 
fasciaque  antemarginali  saturate  fuscis  ;  post,  ochreo-fuscis  ;  thorace 
ochreo-albido. 


514  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    AUSTRALIAN    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

(J.  13-14  mm.  Head  and  thorax  ochreous- whitish.  Palpi 
ochreous  white,  second  joint  with  an  oblique  dark  fuscous  median 
band.  Antennae  ochreous-white,  annulated  with  dark  fuscous. 
Abdomen  wliitish-ochreous.  Anterior  legs  dark  fuscous,  tarsi 
ringed  with  ochreous-white;  middle  and  posterior  legs  ochreous- 
whitish,  middle  tarsi  grey  towards  base  of  joints  Fore  wings 
elongate,  costa  slightly  arched,  apex  round-pointed,  hindmargin 
very  obliquely  rounded ;  ochreous- whitish  ;  extreme  costal  edge 
dark  fuscous  at  base  ;  sometimes  a  grey  suffusion  along  inner 
margin ;  a  black  dot  in  disc  before  middle,  another  obliquely 
beyond  it  on  fold,  and  two  transversely  placed  and  confluent  in 
disc  beyond  middle  ;  a  blackish  fascia  from  costa  before  apex  to 
before  anal  angle,  dilated  below  middle  :  a  row  of  dark  fuscous 
dots  on  hindmargin  :  cilia  ochreous-whitish,  beneath  anal  angle 
grev.  Hindwings  brownish-ochreous  or  ochreous-fuscous,  darker 
posteriorly  ;  cilia  brownish-ochreous. 

Narrower- winged  than  C.  strophieUa,  the  two  anterior  discal  dots 
more  oblique  than  in  eitiier  of  the  other  species,  and  unconnected, 
the  posterior  fascia  more  oblique  and  more  approximated  to  hind- 
margin, the  hindwings  with  a  strong  ochreous  tinge,  and  the  thorax 
wholly  pale. 

Wirrabara  Forest,  South  Australia ;  four  specimens  in  October 
from  Eucalyi^tus. 

38.  Eriodyta,  Meyr. 

Head  loosely  haired,  sidetufts  large,  meeting  above,  roughly 
projecting  over  forehead.  Antennae  moderate,  in  $  moderately 
ciliated  (1-1  J),  basal  joint  moderate,  with  strong  pecten.  Palpi 
moderate,  second  joint  exceeding  or  hardly  reaching  base  of 
antennae,  densely  scaled,  more  or  less  thickened,  terminal  joint 
rather  shorter  than  second,  recurved.  Thorax  smooth.  Fore  wings 
elongate,  hindmargin  oblique,  rounded.  Hindwings  rather  narrower 
than  forewings,  elongate-ovate  or  almost  ovate-lanceslate,  hind- 
margin rounded,  cilia  ^  to  1.  Abdomen  moderate.  Posterior 
tibise  clothed  with  very  long  fine  hairs.  Forewings  with  vein  7  to 
hindmargin,  2  almost  from  angle  of  cell.     Hindwings  normal. 


BY    E,   MEYRICK,   B.A.  515 

This  genus  cannot  be  considered  satisfactory  as  it  stands,  but 
with  the  material  which  I  at  present  possess  I  cannot  improve  it. 
The  four  hist  species  seem  naturally  allied  together,  and  have  a 
decided  affinity  to  Saropla.  The  three  first  are  distinctly  related 
to  Philohota,  but  have  no  strong  connection  with  one  another.  It 
may  be  possible  eventually  to  subdivide  the  group. 
la.   Head  yellow. 

2a.   Forewings  white 242.  contentella. 

2b.  ,,  yellow 244.  suhpunctella. 

lb.  ,,  white 

2a.  Forewings  with  darker  markings. 

3a.  With  a  sinuate  dark  fuscous  streak 243.  sigmophora. 

3b.  With  ochreous  markings 246.   lejjtostola. 

2b.      ,,        unicolorous. 

3a.   Forewings  white 247.  hololeuca 

3b.  „  whitish-ochreous  245.  ahductellci. 

3c.         J,  grey  irrorated  with  white 248.  vernalis. 

242.  Eriod.  contentella,  Walk. 

{Oecophora  contentella,  Walk.,  Brit.  Mus.  Cat.  1031. 

Minor,  alls  ant.  niveis,  basi  fasciisque  tribus  directis  saturate 
fuscis  ;  post,  albido-griseis. 

$  9.  11-14  mm.  Head  light  ochreous-yellow.  Palpi  white, 
second  joint  yellowish-tinged  with  basal  half  dark  fuscous. 
Antennae  grey.  Thorax  white,  posterior  margin  dark  fuscous. 
Abdomen  whitish,  anal  tuft  yellowish-tinged.  Legs  dark  fuscous, 
posterior  pair  yellowish-whitish.  Forewings  elongate,  moderate, 
costa  moderately  arched,  apex  rounded,  hindraargin  obliquely 
rounded  ;  snow-white  ;  four  straight  direct  dark  fuscous  fascise  ; 
first  basal,  second  before  middle,  third  beyond  middle,  fourth 
rather  broader,  irregular,  subapical :  cilia  ochreous- white,  basal 
half  fuscous.  Hind  wings  whitish-grey  ;  cilia  grey- whitish,  with 
a  grey  line. 

Somewhat  similar  in  marking  to  Philohota  herodiella.  The 
palpi  are  rather  stout,  and  the  second  joint  does  not  reach  base  of 
antennae. 

AlO 


516  DESCRIPTIONS    OF    AUSTRALIAN    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

Sydney,  New  South  Wales ;  locally  common  in  October, 
November,  and  March. 

243.  Eriod.  signioijJiora,  n.  sp. 

Media,  alis  ant.  canis,  strigula  costae  ad  basim  strigaque  qiiam 
maxime  sinuata  e  disco  in  costam  ante  apicem  percurrente 
saturate  fuscis,  costa  ciliisque  ochreo-fiavis  ;  post,  albido-ochreis, 
linea  antemarginali  grisea. 

(J.  19  mm.  Head  white.  Palpi  white,  second  joint  dark 
fuscous  except  at  apex.  Antennae  whitish-grey,  base  blackish. 
Thorax  blackish,  posterior  margin  whitish.  Abdomen  ochreous- 
yellow.  Legs  ochreous-yellow,  anterior  tibiae  blackish  above. 
Forewings  elongate,  moderate,  costa  gently  arched,  apex  rounded, 
hindmargin  oblique,  slightly  rounded ;  white,  very  faintly 
ochreous-tinged  ;  a  thick  black  streak  along  basal  fourth  of  costa, 
remainder  yellow-ochreous  ;  a  strong  rather  irregular  dark  fuscous 
S  shaped  streak,  anterior  extremity  on  fold  before  middle, 
posterior  extremity  on  costa  before  apex,  first  curve  nearly 
touching  middle  of  costa,  second  curve  touching  anal  angle ;  hind, 
margin  beyond  this  whitish-ochreous,  with  some  blackish  scales 
towards  apex :  cilia  ochreous-yellow,  tips  whitish-yellowish. 
Hindwings  pale  whitish-ochreous,  with  a  grey-line  before  hind- 
margin,  sharply  indented  inwards  beneath  costa  ;  cilia  whitish- 
ochreous. 

Singularly  distinct. 

Sydney,  New  South  Wales ;  I  took  one  fine  specimen  on  a  fence 
in  December,  and  have  seen  a  second. 

244.  Eriod.    suhpunctella,  Walk. 
(fiecoi^hora  suhpunctella^  Walk.,  Brit.  Mus.  Cat.) 
Minor,   alis  ant.   flavis,   punctis   disci  tribus   minimis  saturate 
fuscis,  tertio   duplici  ac  cum  angulo  anali  per  strigulam  connexo  ; 
post,  saturate  fuscis. 

$  $.   15-17  mm.     Head,    palpi,    and    thorax    yellow ;    second 
'joint   of  palpi    with    base    and     a    subapical   spot   dark    fuscous. 
Antennae  yellow,  obscurely  ringed  with  grey.     Abdomen  whitish- 
ochreous.     Legs  whitish-ochreous,  anterior  tibiae  and  base  of  tarsal 


BY    E.    MEYRICK,    B.A.  517 

joints  fuscous.  Fore  wings  elongate,  moderate,  costa  moderately 
arched,  apex  obtuse,  liindmargin  rather  oblique,  slightly  rounded ; 
yellow ;  costal  edge  blackish  at  base  ;  a  very  small  blackish  dot  in 
disc  before  middle,  and  a  second  beyond  it  on  fold  ;  two  others 
transversely  placed  and  confluent  in  disc  beyond  middle,  connected 
with  a  slender  cloudy  fuscous  streak  from  anal  angle  :  cilia  yellow^ 
Hindwings  dark  fuscous,  lighter  towards  base ;  cilia  whitishi 
ochreous,  with  a  dark  fuscous  basal  line. 

OifFers  from  all  similarly  marked  species  by  the  yellow  ground- 
colour. 

Sydney,  New  South  Wales ;  not  uncommon,  in  December  and 
February. 

245.  Eriod.   abductella,  Walk. 

(Gelechia  abductella,  Walk.,  Brit.  Mus.  Cat.  650.) 

Minor,  alis  aat.  apice  acuto,  albido-ochreis,  dorsum  versus  vis 
saturatioribus  ;  post,  saturatius  griseis,  basim  versus  dilutioribus. 

$  9.  14-17  mm.  Head  white,  slightly  ochreous-tinged.  Palp 
white,  second  joint  mixed  with  ochreo.is  externally,  apex  of 
terminal  joint  dark  fuscous.  Antennae  whitish.  Thorax  whitish- 
ochreous.  Abdomen  ochreous- whitish.  Legs  ochreous- whitish, 
anterior  pair  dark  grey  above.  Forewings  elongate,  moderate, 
costa  moderately  arched,  apex  acute,  hindmargin  very  obliquely 
rounded  ;  pale  whitish-ochreous,  somewhat  darker  towards  inner 
margin ;  cilia  pale  whitish-ochreous.  Hindwings  rather  dark 
grey,  much  paler  towards  base  ;  cilia  ochreous- whitish,  base  more 
ochreous. 

An  inconspicuous  species,  liable  to  be  overlooked. 

Sydney,  New  South  Wales  ;  common  from  October  to  December. 

246.  Eriod.  lej^tostola,  n.  sp. 

Minor,  alis  ant.  niveis,  ochreo-sparsis,  strigula  ad  basim  sub- 
costali,  punctis  disci  tribus,  quarto  dorsi  postico,  strigula  anguli 
analis  obliqua,  lineaque  postica  ochreis  ;  post,  griseis. 

(J  9-  12-15.  mm.  Head  white.  Palpi  white,  second  joint 
externally   suffused  with  dark   fuscous  except  at  base  and  apex. 


518  DESCRIPTIONS   OF    AUSTRALIAN    MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA, 

Antennse  whitish.  Thorax  white,  slightly  mixed  with  ochreous. 
Abdomen  ochreous- whitish.  Anterior  legs  dark  fuscous ;  middle 
tibiae  ochreous-whitish,  tarsi  grey  with  whitish  rings  at  apex  of 
joints ;  posterior  legs  ochreous-whitish.  Forewings  elongate, 
costa  moderately  arched,  apex  round-pointed,  hindmargin  very 
obliquely  rounded  ;  white,  with  irregularly  scattered  brownish- 
ochreous  scales ;  costal  edge  dark  fuscous  towards  base  ;  markings 
brownish-ochreous ;  a  thick  streak  beneath  costa  from  base  to  middle, 
sufFased  and  indistinct  posteriorly;  a  large  dot  in  disc  before 
middle,  another  on  fold  obliquely  before  it,  and  a  third  in  disc 
beyond  middle,  connected  with  anal  angle  by  an  oblique  streak  ;  a 
small  spot  on  inner  margin  before  anal  angle  ;  sometimes  a  suffused 
streak  along  fold,  or  along  middle  of  inner  margin  ;  a  streak  near 
and  parallel  to  hindmargin  :  cilia  white,  mixed  with  ochreous- 
Hindwings  grey,  much  paler  towards  base  ;  cilia  ochreous-whitish, 
with  a  cloudy  grey  line. 

Variable  in  intensity  of  markings. 

Sydney,  New  South  Wales  ;  generally  common,  in  November 
December,  February  and  March. 

247.  Eriod.  hololeuca,  n.  sp. 

Minor,  alis  ant.  elongatis,  canis,  interdum  squamis  paucis 
ochreis  ;  post,  griseis. 

(J.  14-16  mm.  Head,  palpi,  antennse,  and  thorax  white 
Abdomen  ochreous-whitish.  Legs  white,  anterior  pair  dark 
fuscous,  middle  tarsi  gTey.  Forewings  elongate,  rather  narrow, 
costa  moderately  arched,  apex  pointed,  hindmargin  very  oblique 
hardly  rounded ;  white^  sometimes  with  a  few  pale  ochreous 
scales  :  cilia  white.  Hindwings  grey  or  light  grey  ;  cilia  ochreous- 
whitish. 

This  and  the  following  species  have  more  elongate  and  narrower 
wings  than  the  rest. 

Brisbane  and  Toowoomba,  Queensland ;  rather  common  in 
September. 


BY    E.    MEYRICK,    B.A.  519 

248.  Eriod,   vernalis,  n.   sp. 

Minor,  alls  ant.  elongatis,  oclireo-griseis,  creberrirae  cano-con- 
spersis  ;  post,  dilute  griseis. 

^.  14-16  mm.  Head,  palpi,  antennae,  thorax,  abdomen,  and 
legs  grey-whitish  ;  anterior  legs  dark  fuscous  Forewings  elongate, 
narrow,  costa  moderately  arched,  apex  pointed,  hindmargin 
extremely  obliquely  rounded ;  ochreous-grey,  densely  irrorated 
with  white  :  cilia  white,  irrorated  with  grey.  Hindwings  light 
grey  or  whitish-grey  ;  cilia  grey- whitish. 

One  of  the  very  earliest  spring  insects,  easily  neglected. 

Sydney,  New  South  Wales  ;  four  specimens  in  August. 


Notes  on  the   Geology  of    the    Southern    Portion    of   the 
Clarence    River  Basin. 

By  Professor  Stephens. 

The  Delta  of  the  Clarence  River,  now  notable  throughout 
Australia  as  a  district  in  which  the  Sugar  Cane  can  be  profitably 
cultivated  by  free  white  labour,  lies,  like  all  the  deltas  in  New 
South  Wales,  entirely  inland.  The  strong  current  which  sweeps 
along  the  eastern  coast,  and  maintains  by  means  of  its  tepid  waters 
a  subtropical  climate  and  vegetation  as  far  south  as  Illawarra,  also 
carries  away  to  the  southward  and  to  sea  all  the  mud  and  fine 
sediments  which  are  discharged  by  this  and  its  sister  rivers.  Only 
the  heavy  si^icious  silt  remains  behind,  which,  together  with  the 
sands  pounded  out  of  the  sea  clifi's  by  the  unceasing  action  of  the 
waves,  forms  at  the  mouth  of  every  estuary  a  curving  line  of 
dunes,  concave  to  the  sea,  and  resting  at  each  extremity  upon 
headlands  of  solid  rock.  The  immunity  from  winter  cold  and 
spring  frosts  which  the  Clarence  enjoys  more  than  any  river  to  the 
south,   and  more  than   most   to    the   north,    until  the  Tropic  is 


520         GEOLOGY  OF  THE  CLARENCE  RIVER  BASIN, 

actually  reached,  deiDends  in  part  I  suppose  on  its  extremely  low 
seaboard,  partly  on  the  vast  quantities  of  warm  sea  water  which  are 
drawn  in  with  every  tide,  and  partly  upon  the  free  and  well-drained 
character  of  the  sugarlands. 

The  result  of  these  advantages,  the  sugar  industry  of  the 
Clarence,  presents  a  really  astonishing  spectacle.  Industrial 
activity  of  any  kind,  however  striking  it  may  be  to  the  visitor, 
is  not  indeed  a  subject  for  the  consideration  of  this  Society.  But 
having  been  recently  enabled  to  visit  the  district,  and  to  make  the 
trip  from  Grafton  on  the  Clarence  to  den  Innes  on  the  Table 
land,  and  back  again,  I  had  an  opportunity  of  making  some 
observations  on  the  Geological  structure  of  that  part  of  the  country, 
which  I  hope  may  be  worth  some  attention.  There  is  more 
repetition  in  the  paper  than  I  could  wish  ;  but  it  seemed  to  me 
while  writing  that  with  more  condensation  I  might  become  less  in- 
telligible.    "  Brevis  esse  laboro,  ohscurusfio." 

The  road  from  Grafton  to  Buccarumbi,  with  which  we  are 
principally  concerned,  runs  through  a  poor  country  of  sandstones 
and  shales,  undulating  in  the  valleys,  but  broken  by  ranges  of 
mural  precipices  closely  resembling  the  escarpments  common  in 
the  Hawkesbury  sandstone.  The  false  bedding  or  oblique 
stratification  so  common  in  the  latter  series  is  equally  predominant 
here ;  and  the  rock  faces  are  excavated  by  atmospheric  action  into 
caves  or  "  gibber  gunyas"  of  exactly  the  same  character  as  those  on 
the  shores  of  Port  Jackson  or  in  the  gullies  of  the  Blue 
Mountains.  The  vegetation  is  also  so  similar  that  it  is  only  by  a 
kind  of  efi^ort  that  one  remembers  that  the  formation  is  not  the 
same.  A  hill  beyond  the  river  Orara  is  capped  with  quartz 
boulders  and  gravel.  To  this  I  shall  refer  in  its  proper  place. 
Quitting  the  main  basin  of  the  Orara  by  the  line  of  the 
Chambigne  Creek,  and  over  a  range  covered  with  a  fine  open  forest 
of  spotted  gum  and  ironbark,  we  descend  to  the  OBX  Creek  over 
a  road  metalled  with  petrified  wood.  This  gully  is  the  most 
interesting  geological  feature  which  we  have  yet  observed.  For 
the  right  bank  of  the  Clarence  receives  its  waters  partly  from  the 
coast  ranges  by  the  Orara,  and  partly  from  the   south   and  west. 


BY  PROFESSOR  STEPHENS.  521 

The  basin  of  the  former  is  carboniferous — that  of  the  latter 
Devonian,  Silurian,  or  older.  Along  the  boundary  runs  the  OBX, 
having  on  its  left  the  rocks  of  vertical,  on  its  right  bank  those  of 
horizontal  stratification.  If  we  examine  the  sections  displayed  upon 
the  right,  we  shall  observe  at  the  basis  a  conglomerate  of  small 
pebbles,  over  which  lies  a  felspathic  looking  sandstone.  Above 
this  again  is  seen  a  bed  composed  mainly  of  petrified  trees, 
apparently  coniferous,  and  highly  charged  with  oxide  of  iron. 
Above  follow  s-hales  and  sandstones,  in  which  seams  of  Coal  are 
known  to  occur.  Coal  indeed  is  everywhere  indicated  in  these 
horizontal  beds,  and  many  seams  have  been  proved,  as  at  Rocky 
Mouth,  but  as  yet  without  very  satisfactory  result.  Turning  to 
the  left  or  western  bank  we  find  the  road  ascend  by  a  side  catting, 
displaying  those  familiar  schists  and  slates  which  for  want  of  a 
better  name  we  call  Siluro-Devonian.  Here  and  there  we  observe 
patches  of  horizontal  conglomerate  resting  upon  their  upturned 
edges,  and  on  the  summit  we  find  a  massive  capping  of  the  same. 
As  we  descend,  we  lose  it,  though  scattered  pebbles  from  that 
source  are  still  to  be  seen  on  the  surface. 

At  Buccarumbi  we  cross  the  Nymboi,  just  below  its  junction 
with  the  Boyd,  or  Little  River,  up  which  we  run,  through 
schists,  hard  slates,  and  quartzites,  to  Broadmeadows,  where 
we  leave  it  (in  granite)  for  the  Henry  or  Newton  Boyd 
River,  a  tributary  of  the  Mann  or  Mitchell.  (Every  river 
here  has  an  alias  or  two.)  After  crossing  the  former  we  strike 
the  right  bank  of  the  latter,  and  keep  it  more  or  less  until  we 
cross  this  also  just  before  the  ascent  to  the  table  land.  The  road 
all  the  way  from  Broadmeadows  winds  over  a  tract  of  soft  and 
decomposing  granite  forming  a  steeply  undulating  surface  enclosed 
and  invaded  by  impassable  ranges  of  greenstone,  or  equally 
forbidding  rock.  The  river  bottoms  however  are  floored  with 
extremely  hard,  that  is,  undecomposed  granite.  A  spur  of 
this  softer  granite,  the  Big  Hill,  carries  the  road  up  2000  feet 
higher,  to  the  open  granitic  downs,  black  soil  flats,  and  rich 
agricultural  lands  formed  by  the  decomposition  of  volcanic  rock, 
which  form  the  superficial  riches  of  New  England. 


522        GEOLOGY  OF  THE  CLARENCE  RIVER  BASIN, 

Returning  to  the  Orara  range  and  taking  our  stand  upon  tlie 
summit  we  have  immediately  beneath  our  feet  the  conglomerate 
mentioned  above,  a  more  recent  portion  of  which  same  formation  is 
the  basis  of  the  Clarence  Carboniferous  series,  which  extends 
eastwards  without  visible  break,  though  enormously  eroded,  all 
the  way  to  the  Pacific.  This  capping  of  the  hill  rests  upon  an 
uneven  surface  of  slates,  schists,  and  quartzites,  vertical  or  nearly 
so,  and  extending  westwards  to  the  greenstones  and  granites  which 
form  the  eastern  buttress  of  the  tableland. 

The  range,  as  has  been  already  said,  forms  the  division  between 
the  basin  of  the  OraraorS.E.  tributary  of  the  Clarence,  (which rising 
near  the  coast  runs  in  a  north-easterly  direction  to  join  the  river  above 
Grafton),  and  that  of  the  south-western  waters,  which  are  gathered 
from  the  vast  alpine  mass  rising  to  the  eastward  of  Armidale, 
and  known  in  different  parts  by  different  names,  as  Mount  Lofty, 
Macleay  Range,  Chandler's  Peak,  &c.  It  is  a  spur  of  the  main 
watershed  or  Great  Divide,  starting  from  Ben  Lomond,  and 
separating  the  upper  waters  of  the  Clarence  and  Manning  Rivers. 
Much  of  it  is  laid  down  in  the  Geological  Map  as  volcanic ;  more, 
I  venture  to  predict,  than  will  be  admitted  bye  and  bye.  Its 
northern  slopes  are  drained  by  the  various  torrents  which  make  up 
the  Nymboi,  Guy  Fawkes  and  Mitchell  Rivers,  and  pass  to  the 
northwards  between  us  and  the  table  land.  The  Guy  Fawkes 
takes  a  sudden  turn  to  the  west,  nearly  S.  of  Newton  Boyd,  and 
under  the  name  of  Little  River  or  Boyd,  joins  the  Nymboi  at 
Buccarumbi,  having  been  probably  been  diverted  from  its  original 
course  by  the  elevation  of  the  Newton  Boyd  greenstones  and 
granites. 

For  the  whole  channel  of  the  Boyd  or  Little  River  as  we  trace 
it  westwards  and  upwards  from  Buccarumbi,  where  it  joins  the 
Nymboi,  to  Broadmeadows,  where  we  leave  it  for  the  Henry 
or  Newton  Boyd  River,  is  a  deep  gutter  eroded  in  slates  and 
quartzites,  generally  of  intense  hardness,  in  a  direction  at  right 
angles  to  their  strike.  A  similar  and  parallel  channel,  about  15 
miles  to  the  north  carries  the  waters  of  the  Mitchell  to  the  Nymboi. 
There  is  no  fault  traversing  these  beds  in  a   direction  at  right 


BY    PROFESSOR   STEPHENS.  623 

angles  to  their  strike,  which  might  have  been  invoked,  against  all 
reasonable  probability,  to  explain  the  direction  of  the  drainage. 
The  harder  beds  of  rock  are  quite  coutinuoiis  from  the  north  to  the 
south  bank ;  they  form  projecting  spurs  on  each,  which  are 
connected  by  transverse  bars  or  ridges,  forming  shelves  and 
rapids  in  the  stream,  as  they  still  reluctantly  yield  to  ancient  and 
interminable  erosion.  The  Geological  Map  here  marks  an  elongated 
stripe  of  igneous  rock,  along  which  the  river  makes  its  way  ;  as  if 
this  were  a  softer  material  which  had  been  more  easily  excavated 
than  the  rest.  But  this  is  evidently  an  error  ;  and  I  cannot  help 
suspecting  that  more  of  the  Green  patches  in  the  neighbourhood 
have  in  reality  no  claim  to  that  colour,  but  rather  to  Mauve.* 
The  origin  of  the  mistake  in  the  case  of  the  Little  River 
River  is  not  difficult  of  discovery.  For  the  road  along  side  of  it 
is  to  a  very  large  extent  a  ledge  or  cornice  cut  out  of  the  solid 
rock,  which  is,  as  has  been  already  observed,  of  a  most  refractory 
charactei",  and  would  be  rated  in  specifications,  tenders,  and 
contracts,  as  equal  to  the  hardest  material.  At  any  rate  I  found 
that  the  name  recognised  in  these  localities  for  the  blue  flinty 
cpiartzite  was  Basalt,  and  hence,  I  presume,  the  error  in  the  Map.  If 
this  be  the  case,  it  is  probable  that  other  "Green"  areas  in  the  same 
Roads-district,  will  prove  to  have  the  same  originf.  In  reality 
the  whole  district  from  OBX  Creek  westward  as  far  as  Broad- 
meadows,  a  few  miles  from  Newton  Boyd  is  of  the  same  formation 
(Siluro- Devonian  V)  and  is  probably  not  destitute  of  fossil  remains  ; 
though,  from  the  highly  metamorphic  character  of  its  greater 
portion,  they  are  not  likely  to  be  found  easily  or  frequently.  Gold 
is  obtained  at  many  points,  and  at  Dalmorton  on  the  Boyd,  a 
mining  township  has  beOn  established,  and  some  reefs  are  being 
worked,  with  not  much  noticeable  result.  In  one  or  two  spots  I 
observed  small  dioritic  dykes,  and  indications  of  others.  But  the 
country  as  a  whole  consists  of  nearly  vertical  slates  and  quartzites, 
with  the  usual  northerly  strike. 

*  Green  in  this  Map  signifies  Dioritic  and  Basaltic  (Volcanic  and  Trappean)  ;  Maude, 
Silurian  formations. 

t  I  have  been  informed  that  the  coarse  sand  which  forms  by  the  decomposition  of  granite 
is  known  in  N.  S.W.  Railway  contracts  as  Gneiss.  Out  of  this  misnomer  strange  confusion 
might  arise. 


524        GEOLOGY  OF  THE  CLARENCE  RIVER  BASIN, 

But  to  return  to  the  conglomerate  at  the  top  of  the  Orara 
range.  It  occupies  an  ancient  river  bed,  now  the  summit  of  a 
hill  more  than  900  feet  above  the  sea.  It  is  composed  of  pebbles 
large  and  small,  all  well  rounded,  of  ellipsoidal  shape,  and 
composed  of  hard  slates,  &c.,  without  quartz.  It  contains  patches 
of  coarse  sandstone,  bedded  at  various  angles,  and  composed  of 
river  sand,  with  few,  if  any,  separate  grains  of  quartz.  There  can 
be  no  doubt  as  to  its  fluviatile  origin;  and  it  is  probable  that 
it  represents  a  somewhat  deep  portion  of  the  bed,  where  the 
shingle  might  have  been  consolidated  by  cement  before  the  waters 
had  deserted  that  part  of  their  course  :  for  it  seems  clear  that 
this  bed  of  concrete  served  to  protect  the  portion  of  the  range 
immediately  beneath  it  from  the  waste  which  the  rest  has  suffered. 
Again,  down  the  eastern  slope  of  the  range  we  come  upon  other 
shelves  or  patches  of  the  same  material,  the  pebbles  diminishing 
in  average  size,  but  otherwise  the.  same,  until  at  last  in  the 
bottom  of  the  creek  we  see  it  emerging  upon  the  right  bank  from 
the  loose  shingle  of  the  torrent  bed,  and  forming,  as  has  already 
been  said,  the  basis  of  the  horizontal  series.  It  is  not  to  be 
supposed  that  this  conglomerate  underlies  that  series  throughout. 
It  is  clearly,  I  think,  a  river  shingle,  and  cannot  be  supposed  to 
extend  very  far  to  the  eastward  of  OBX.  Upon  what  then  does 
it  rest,  and  what  is  the  formation  upon  which  the  Clarence  River 
beds  have  been  deposited  1  The  conglomerate  showing  first  as  a  cap 
to  the  range,  secondly  as  a  series  of  shelves  upon  the  western  or 
left  hand  slope,  and  finally  as  the  bottom  rock  of  the  escarpment 
on  the  eastern  or  right  bank,  seems  to  give  one  half  the  answer  ; 
and  the  disappearance  of  the  older  rocks  East  of  the  range,  to 
complete  it.  I  suppose  the  river  which  formed  the  upper  con- 
glomerate to  have  run  northwards  along  a  line  of  fault  in  the 
Slates.  This  line  is  now  marked  on  the  map  by  the  division 
between  the  Silurian  and  Clarence  River  beds,  and  on  the  ground, 
at  least  in  part,  by  OBX  Creek.  I  suppose  further  that  the 
lowering  of  the  river  was  mainly  due,  not  to  erosion,  which  could 
have  had  comparatively  little  effect  upon  a  bottom  so  well  protected 
by  deep  shingle,  but  by  the  gradual  descent  of  the  whole  country 


BY  PROFESSOR  STEPHENS.  525 

to  the  East  of  the  fault.  This  would  by  slow  degrees  leave  the 
left  bank  as  a  steep  slope  overhanging  the  river,  capped  with  the 
oldest  shingle,  and  stepped  by  the  latter  and  lower  drift  in  shelves 
as  described ;  until  at  last  the  downward  movement  of  the 
seaward  side  was  arrested,  and  the  bottom  conglomerate  began  to 
be  formed.  It  would  seem  that  at  this  period  the  landscape  east 
of  the  Orara  range  was  something  like  Avhat  it  is  now,  a  somewhat 
rugged  but  undulating  surface  extending  to  the  sea,  with  its  coast 
ranges  more  elevated  than  those  inland  ;  but  that  it  differed  from  the 
present  in  being  formed  of  slates,  of  less  hardness  perhaps,  and  less 
vertical,  but  still  of  no  other  formation  than  those  to  the  westward. 
The  sliding  movement  of  one  side  of  the  fault  againstthe  other  gradu- 
ally ceased,  eased  possibly  by  the  formation  of  a  parallel  fault  or  set  of 
faults  near  or  beyond  the  sea  margin.  The  existence  of  this  second 
fault  is  supported  by  much  probable  evidence  drawn  from  the 
character  of  the  coast,  and  the  eastward  limitation  of  the  Clarence 
Basin.  Without  at  present  entering  into  details  I  should  refer,  as 
an  illustration,  to  the  double  line  of  fault  w^hich  almost  certainly 
exists  in  the  Waianamata  District,  but  affecting  the  older  rocks 
only  ;  one  line  along,  or  a  little  to  the  west  of,  the  channel  of  the 
Nepean  ;  the  other,  some  distance  to  the  East  of  the  Coast.  The 
first  is  partially  masked  by  the  overlying  Hawkesbury  sandstone ; 
the  second  concealed  by  the  sea. 

At  any  rate  there  must  have  been  such  a  cessation  of  opposite 
movements  as  I  have  described.  For  thereafter  we  can  trace 
no  elevation  of  the  one  side  concurrent  with  subsidence  of  the 
other,  but  both  portions  move  together,  whether  upwards  or 
downwards. 

And  so,  after  an  indefinite  period  of  rest,  (or  perhaps  of  rising) 
the  whole  district  began  again  to  subside.  Great  lakes  were 
gradually  formed  and  great  rivers  still  carrying  down  the  debris 
of  the  wasting  continent,  filled  up  the  hollows  with  beds  of  sand 
or  mud,  interspersed  with  drifted  logs  and  the  vegetation  from 
their  banks. 

The  ancient  surface  sank  the  faster  under  this  accumulation, 
which   by   degrees  obliterated  every  salient  feature,  burying  all 


526         GEOLOGY  OF  THE  CLARENCE  RIVER  BA.SIN, 

under  vast  accumulations  of  sediment,  not  less  probably  than  a 
thousand  feet  in  thickness,  and  with  a  surface  but  little  raised 
above  the  sea.  Meanwhile  the  lower  beds  of  this  formation  were 
becoming  hardened  and  consolidated,  the  sands  into  sandstones, 
muds  into  shales,  and  the  debris  of  swamp  vegetation  and  timber 
into  coal.  These  are  the  Clarence  River  Coal  measures,  which 
have  as  yet  escaped  any  thorough  investigation.  The  fossils 
which  have  been  determined  are  few.  Our  President  says 
of  the  whole  series  "  In  the  Clarence  River  district  we  have 
certain  Coal  bearing  strata,  the  relative  position  of  which  has  not 
yet  been  definitely  ascertained.  They  consist  of  a  great  thickness 
of  conglomerates  sandstones  and  shales.  The  seams  of  Coal  as 
yet  discovered  on  them  are  of  no  value,  but  it  is  not  unlikely  that 
seams  of  good  quality  will  be  found  in  the  lower  portion  of  the 
series.  No  Glossopteris  has  been  found  in  these  beds,  but  as  they 
contain  the  Tceniopteris  Daintreei,  Alethoptei'is  australis,  and 
Thinnfeldia,  they  may  be  newer  than  the  Wianamatta  beds,  and 
of  the  same  age — Jurassic—  as  the  Victorian  Coal  series,  of  which 
Tmniopteris  Daintreei  is  a  characteristic  fossil.""^ 

The  Rev.  J.  E.  Tenison- Woods  in  his  paper  on  the  Fossil  Flora 
of  the  Australian  Coal  measures  apparently  identifies  these 
Clarence  River  beds  with  the  Ipswich  Coal  measures  at  Moreton 
Bay.f 

The  quarries  now  worked  at  both  North  and  South  Heads  for 
the  supply  of  stone  for  training  walls,  breakwater,  &c.,  in  the 
improvement  of  the  entrance,  yield  large  quantities  of  carbonaceous 
fossils,  such  as  whole  trees  straight  in  the  trunk,  and  branching 
radially  like  Pines,  long  straight  leaves  resembling  those  of  Palms 
or  of  the  Pandanus  when  split,  other  leaves  and  branching  stems, 
shapeless  lumps  of  carbonaceous  matter, — and  stems  of  Palm  trees 
or  Pandanus,  rugose  on  the  outside  and  crushed  into  flattened 
cylinders  owing  to  the  softness  of  the  internal  structure.  Besides 
these,  specimens  of  actually  petrified  wood  are  frequent ;  and  in  one 
block  I  clearly  saw  a  portion  of  a  shell  evidently  belonging  to  the 

*  Mineral  Products  of  N.S.W.     1882. 

t  Proceedings  Linn.  Soc.  N.S.W,,  1883,  p.  54. 


BY    PROFESSOR    STEPHENS  627 

UnionidcT.  I  confess  that  the  inspection  of  these  rocks  leads  me 
to  o'uess  at  a   more  recent  date  for  the  formation  than  has  been 

o 

pro^Dosed.  But  two  or  three  hours  are  qnite  inadequate  for 
reasonable  examination  of  so  large  a  mass  of  fossils.  Two  or  three 
months  would  hardly  be  enough. 

It  is  not  improbable  however  that  these  rocks  upon  the  coast 
line  are  the  very  uppermost  beds  of  the  series,  and  pass  into  quite 
a  different  era  from  those  inland. 

However  this  may  be,  it  is  certain  that  after  a  very  long  period 
of  subsidence,  covering  possibly,  as  hinted  above,  more  than  one 
geological  period,  a  reverse  action  commenced,  and  the  whole  basin 
began  to  be  eroded  by  the  rivers  which  had  filled  it,  and  by  the 
rainfall  which  as  century  after  century  rolled  past,  and  the  land  rose 
more  and  more,  found  higher  and  higher  elevations  to  work  upon. 
So  by  degrees  and  at  last  the  surface  was  carved  into  the  familiar 
hill  and  dale,  cliff  and  gully,  which  result  from  the  erosion  of 
horizontally  stratified  rocks  of  different  degrees  of  hardness. 

At  some  period  during  this  emergence,  and  before  the  present 
river  system  was  elaborated  a  river  now  represented  by  the  Orara 
flowed  from  the  south  over  a  bed  of  quartz  boulders  and  gravel. 
These  remain  here  or  there,  as  in  the  older  or  upper  drift  on  the 
Orara  range,  as  a  capping  to  the  hilltops  which  were  originally 
the  valley  bottoms  along  which  the  river  ran.  The  boulders  are 
large  enough  to  suggest  floating  ice  as  an  aid  in  their  transport. 
But  I  do  not  know  that  the  hypothesis  is  required.  They  must 
indeed  have  travelled  a' very  considerable  distance,  from  the  head 
of  the  Bellinger  at  least,  and  are  not  particularly  well  rounded. 
Still  as  w.e  cannot  even  guess  what  fall  the  stream  which  conveyed 
them  had  from  its  source  to  their  resting  place,  it  is  premature  to 

appeal  to  Ice. 

An  example  of  this  boulder  or  gravel  bed  may  be  seen  on  the 
W.  side  of  the  river  on  the  top  of  the  ridge  as  you  pass  upwards 
towards  the  west.  These  two  drifts  mark  not  exactly  but  roughly 
the  beginning  and  the  end  of  the  Clarence  River  series. 

Meanwhile  an  abundant  rainfall  continued  to  erode  the 
eminences  as  the  rivers  deepened  these  channels,  and  the  spoils  of 


528         GEOLOGY  OF  THE  CLARENCE  RIVER  BASIN, 

both  were  borne  to  the  ocean  by  the  main  artery,  the  present 
Clarence.  For  the  water  courses  were  now  determined,  and  the 
great  river  now  swept  into  the  sea  somewhere  near  its  present 
mouth.  But  the  relative  levels  of  land  and  water  were  very 
diflferent.  It  is  likely  enough  that  the  river  was  swift  and 
turbid,  Avith  a  rocky  bed,  and  a  rocky  sea  shore  on  which  to 
disembogue.  The  miserable  eminences  of  rock  which  now  break 
the  level  of  the  sea  coast  dunes  were  then  high  crags,  hundreds  of 
feet  above  the  water,  and  connected  by  rocky  ranges,  vv^hich  are 
now  reefs,  at  almost  an  equal  elevation.  Somewhere  under 
the  sand  hills  which  now  impound  the  inland  waters  there  was  a 
deep  valley  or  pass  through  which  the  river  sped  in  its  outward 
course.  But  the  river  bed  of  that  time  must  lie  not  less 
than  five  hundred  feet  below  the  level  of  the  present.  For 
another  oscillation  had  yet  to  take  its  turn.  The  land  once 
more  began  to  sink,  the  currents  to  slacken,  channels 
to  shoal,  rivers  to  spread,  swamps  to  form,  forests  to  be 
flooded,  to  die,  and  be  buried  as  they  lay  in  the  accumulation 
of  sediment.  In  short  the  present  period  of  subsidence  had  begun. 
This  action  is  still  continuing,  and,  if  it  be  directly  connected  with 
the  submergence  of  the  N.  E.  Coast,  and  the  growth  of  the  Barrier 
reef,  is  likely  to  go  on,  at  whatever  time  it  may  have  com- 
menced, to  far  remote  eras  of  Geological  time.  That  allu- 
vium is  still  accumulating  upon  the  surface  is  obvious. 
For  the  river  banks  are  considerably  higher  than  the 
ground  behind,  which  falls  away  into  swamps,  salt  marshes,  and 
lakes ;  and  this  elevation  of  the  banks  is  of  course  due  to  the 
deposit  of  detritus  in  inundations.  Twenty  years  ago,  when  a 
wall  of  rich  tropical  jungle  rose  directly  from  the  waters  edge,  the 
turbid  waters  were  strained  of  their  sediment,  by  filtering  through 
the  matted  underbrush  and  forest  rubbish  which  then  covered  the 
ground,  so  that  the  ultimate  overflow  into  the  back  lands  consisted 
of  comparatively  clear  water.  Hence  while  the  river  was  con- 
tinually though  slowly  rising,  by  the  increment  which  each 
flood  contributed  so  as  to  embank  it  with  natural  levees, 
these    back    lands    were    kept    more    nearly    at  their    original 


BY    PROFESSOR    STEPHENS.  529 

level,  which  therefore  was  year  by  year  becoming  more  and 
more  depressed  in  relation  to  the  river.  The  balance  was  from 
time  to  time  restored  by  a  higher  flood  than  usual,  which  found  its 
way  in  volume  over  the  natural  levees,  formed  broad  sheets  of 
water  in  the  lower  grounds,  and  either  chansfed  the  course  of  the 
river  as  a  whole,  or  at  least  put  the  lower  grounds  in  the  way  of 
reclamation  by  subsidence  of  mud. 

Since  the  shores  have  been  denuded  of  their  forest,  the  flood - 
waters  naturally  flow  more  rapidly  outwards  to  right  and  left  of 
the  channel,  and  carry  the  sediment  with  which  they  are  loaded 
into  the  lower  grounds,  where  it  is  now  chiefly  deposited.  Hence 
we  may  expect  an  increase  of  relative  elevation,  which,  though  small 
for  each  year,  is  continuous,  and  may  perhaps  be  of  considerable 
importance  in  another  half  century.  The  process  described  above 
may  be  seen  in  every  stage  ;  the  wide  and  deep  lake  which  has 
never  received  its  proportionate  share  of  alluvium  ;  the  "  broad 
water  "  or  huge  expansion  of  the  river  over  a  formerly  separated 
swamp,  where  the  process  of  deposition  is  going  on  continuously 
during  every  hour  of  every  tide ;  the  dismal  grey  Casuarina 
marsh,  where  the  ground  has  not  yet  been  raised  above  the 
influence  of  the  salt  water ;  the  green  freshwater  swamps,  with 
their  innumerable  creeks  and  lagoons ;  the  low  moist  rich 
meadows ;  and  finally  the  fertile  and  well  drained  sugar  or  corn 
land.  Thus  on  a  small  scale,  and  with  a  different  flora,  the 
Clarence  is  even  now  repeating  the  grand  natural  processes  to 
which  modern  civilisation  owes  the  fuel  which  is  its  power.  And, 
as  we  have  seen,  a  similar  chain  of  circumstances  led  ages  ago  in 
the  same  district,  to  the  deposit  of  sands  and  muds,  and  of  the 
waste  and  decomposing  matter  of  ferns,  palms,  pandanus,  and  pine 
trees  which  we  recognise  as  the  Clarence  River  Coal  measures. 

Again,  the  hills,  whether  isolated  or  as  spurs  from  the  main 
range,  rise  abruptly  every  where  from  the  level ;  showing  that  the 
subaerial  erosion,  the  debris  produced  by  which  tends  to  fill  in  and 
obliterate  the  angle  between  the  horizontal  ground  and  the  hill 
slope,  is  more  than  counterbalanced  by  the  accumulations  of 
sediment  from  flood  waters.       These  are  all  proofs  of  increasing 


530         GEOLOGY  OF  THE  CLARENCE  RIVER  BASIN, 

deposits,  which  would  permanently  raise  the  land,  were  their  work 
not  counteracted  by  equivalent  subsidence  of  the  foundation.  For 
there  is  nowhere  any  sign  of  real  elevation.  The  coast  line  within 
which  the  rocks  of  the  Clarence  basin  were  deposited  has  disap- 
peared, and  its  position  can  only  be  conjecturally  deterrained  by 
careful  examination  of  the  palaeozoic"  and  igneous  rocks  which 
appear  to  the  North  and  South  of  the  entrance.  But  not  only  has  this 
ancient  barrier  vanished,  but  the  overlying  horizontal  beds  also, 
which  now,  in  miserable  fragments,  form  the  outworks  of  the  land, 
are  disappearing  in  their  turn,  partly  by  subsidence,  partly  by 
marine  erosion,  and  in  large  measure  under  the  exigencies  of  great 
engineering  works.  A  few  inconspicuous  headlands  are  united 
by  long  ranges  of  sandhills,  based  in  some  places  on  rocky 
reefs,  but,  in  others,  filling  the  deep  valleys  through  which 
the  ancient  water  courses  made  their  way  to  the  sea.  It  is  by 
rocks  that  once  were  summits  of  ranges,  and  not  over  the  filled  up 
channels  of  the  drainage  of  tertiary  times,  that  the  present  river 
makes  to  the  sea.  Through  shifting  sands  currents  traverse  widely, 
shifting  their  course  without  warning  or  apparent  reason.  But 
where  there  is  a  rock  at  their  level,  they  can  only  shift  back  and 
forward  from  it.  Consequently  the  channel  obtains  a  certain 
degree  of  permanence,  although  at  the  point  where  the  accumu- 
lation of  sand  is  shallowest,  and  a  long  way  from  the  ancient 
channel,  which  had  been  eroded  before  to  the  commencement  of 
the  present  period  of  subsidence. 

It  may  be  worth  noting  that  in  the  course  of  the  dredging 
operations  which  are  being  carried  on  at  Lawrence,  the  ^'  shackle- 
bone"  oi  a  large  whale,  together  with  other  portions  of  the 
skeleton,  were  met  with  at  a  depth  of  only  two  feet  or  so  in 
the  sandy  drift.  (The  "  shacklebone"  is  composed  of  the  flattened 
cervical  vertebr£e,  which  are  confluent  in  the  true  whales.)  It 
may  be  presumed  that  the  unfortunate  animal  had  found  its  way 
into  the  river  but  was  unable  to  find  its  way  out,  and  had  so  died 
of  hunger.  The  body  must  have  finally  grounded  after  long 
drifting  by  wind  and  tide  somewhere  near  the  place  where  the 
relics  were  discovered.     For  the  bones  which  I  examined,  were 


BY  PROFESSOR  STEPHENS.  531 

quite  recent ;  and  it  must  be  many  a  thousand  years  since  whales 
could  have  maintained  themselves  upon  that  ground.  It  is 
hardly  necessary  to  add  that  no  marine  beds  of  any  kind  have 
been  met  with  in  sinking  wells  or  the  like  through  the  alluvium, 
which  is  probably  fluviatile  to  the  very  bottom,  and  there  rests  on 
an  irregular  surface  of  hill  and  dale,  formed  by  the  long  and  deeply 
eroded  Coal  bearing  rocks.  These  again,  in  all  probability  rest, 
as  has  been  shown,  on  a  similarly  eroded  surface  of  Silurian  or 
even  older  Slates,  and  these,  as  the  Hindoo  Cosmogony  has  it, 
upon  the  fundamental  Tortoise. 


Dimensions  of  some  Gigantic  Land  Tortoises. 
By  J.  C.   Cox,  M.D.,  &c. 

We  have  in  Sydney  two  large  specimens  of  a  Gigantic  Land 
Tortoise.  One  is  the  property  of  Alexander  McDonald,  Esq.,  of 
Adelaide  Cottage,  Potts'  Point,  and  is  named  "  Potumah,"  from 
the  fact  of  his  having  been  presented  to  the  owner  by  the  Chief  of 
Potumah.     This  specimen  is  a  male. 

The  second  is  owned  by  Dr^  Manning  at  Gladesville,  a  female. 

Porter  in  1813,  was  the  first  who  published  any  record  of  these 
huge  Land  Tortoises,  which  he  found  from  3  to  4001bs.  in  weight  at 
the  Galapagos  Islands.  I  am  not  at  all  sure  as  to  what  species  these 
two  Tortoises  belong,  but  they  are  supposed  to  come  from  Galapagos 
Archipelago.  Darwin  saw  two  there  which  he  says  must  have 
weighed  at  least  two  hundred  pounds  each. 

There  is  a  large  specimen  of  this  Tortoise  at  Ceylon,  whose  great 
size  was  considered  sufficient  by  the  inhabitants  to  demand  a 
Poyal  Inspection — First,  by  the  Duke  of  Edinburgh  while  on  a 
cruise  in  H.M.S.  Galatea,  and  subsequently  by  H.  P.  H.  the 
Prince  of  Wales,  when  he  landed  at  Ceylon  on  his  way  to  India. 
This  tortoise  weighed  2241bs.,  but  some  notion  of  the  enormous 
Tortoise  in  the  possession  of  Mr,  McDonald  may  be  found  when  I 
mention  that  its  weight  is  no  less  than  6 4 2 lbs. 

Subjoined  is  a  record  of  the   measurements  of  Mr.  McDonald's 
Tortoise  and  those  of  the  Ceylon  and  Gladesville  specimens.     The 
specimen  at  Gladesville  far  exceeds  that  of  the  Ceylon  specimen,  but 
All 


532  NOTES   AND    EXHIBITS. 

does  not  come  up  to  that  of  Mr.  McDonald's,  thougli  the  difference 
in  sex  may  in  some  way  account  for  this.  There  is  a  specimen  of  a 
huge  Tortoise  in  the  British  Museum  from  the  Aldabra  Island, 
which  weighed  8701bs.,  and  is  called  Testudo  Elephantina.  Many 
of  this  latter  species  have  been  exported  to  the  Seychelles,  where 
they  thrive  well. 

RoTUMAH.     Gigantic  Toktoise.        Glades ville. 
Adelaide  Cottage.  Ceylon.  Tortoise. 

Length  of  nose  to  tail... 6ft.  2in.       5ft.  3m.        5ft.  10 Jin.  no  tail. 

Ditto  shell 4ft.  7iin.       4ft.  Tin.       4ft. 

Across  ditto 5ft.  lOJin.       4ft.  Sin.        5ft. 

Girth    8ft.  Sin.  6ft.  7iin. 

Height  lying  down 2ft.  2  Jin. 

Ditto  standing  up    ...3ft.  lin.        2ft.  Sin. 

Length  under  shell 3ft.  2ft  4iin. 

Front  leg  und  er  knee ...  1  ft.  7  Jin. 

Ditto  round  elbow  .  2ft.  IJin.  1ft.  5in. 

Ditto  round  foot .....  1  ft.  1 1  in . 

Hindleg,  instep 1ft.  9lin. 

Hound  head 1ft.  7in.  1ft.  Sin. 

Weight... b  cwt.,  2  qrs.  and  261bs.     2  cwt.  2  qrs. 


NOTES    AND    EXHIBITS. 

The  following  communication  from  Baron  von  Miiller  on  the 
Orthography  of  the  name  of  Linnaeus  was  read. 

As  a  Society,  bearing  the  great  name  of  Linnaeus,  must  be 
particularly  interested  in  the  exact  manner  in  which  that  name 
should  be  written,  a  translation  is  herewith  offered  from  a  letter 
by  the  celebrated  Algologist,  Professor  Dr.  J.  Agardh,  of  Lund,  to 
Baron  Yon  Miiller,  on  this  subject,  concerning  which,  after  some 
recent  writings  of  the  latter,  a  controversy  had  arisen. 

"  You  desire  to  know  how  the  name  of  Linne  has  been  written 
with  us.  In  olden  times  it  was  customary  in  Sweden,  that 
University  Students  chose  a  particular  name,  and  to  this  often 
added  the  Latin  syllable  -us.  Especially  among  Divines  were  such 
names   very   usual ;    thus   we   have   had    Archbishop    Hydeling, 


NOTES    AND    EXHIBITS.  533 

Benzelius,  and  many  others  ;  in  this  manner  the  name  of  Linne 
was  Carl  Linnaeus  ;  and  so  did  he  write  it  himself  in  all  his 
publications,  (whether  Latin  or  Swedish)  till  he  became  ennobled. 
Li  former  times  it  was  here  also  very  customary  that  whosoever 
was  thus  honoured,  adopted  a  new  name  ;  and  it  was  on  this 
occasion  that  Linnaeus  altered  his  name  to  Linne,  writing  either 
Carl  Linne  or  Carl  von  Linne,  or  in  his  subsequent  Latin  works, 
Carol  us  a  Linne,  (vide  Dissertatio  de  coloniis  plantarum  (1768), 
Planta  Aphyleia  (1776),  and  some  other  writings);  but  he  wrote 
also  Carolus  Linne  (Dissertatio  de  Erica  1770),  and  Carolus  von 
Linne  (Dissertatio  de  Cimicifuga  (1774),  Plantse  Surinamenses 
(1775).  Whether  it  was  Linne  himself  or  the  then  King  (Gustav 
III.),  who  put  the  name  into  a  French  form,  I  must  leave 
undecided."  It  may  be  added,  that  in  Germany  and  Denmark, 
the  name  of  the  great  Reformator  in  Natural  History,  is  also 
usually  written  Linne. 

Mr.  Macleay  read  the  following  note  : — The  October  number 
of  the  Annals  and  Magazine  of  Natural  History,  contains  an 
article  on  a  case  of  commensalism  of  a  Caranx  and  a  Cramhessa, 
written  by  M.  Codefroy  Lunel,  and  translated  by  W.  S. 
Dallas,  F.L.S.  In  this  Paper  M.  Lunel  speaks  of  the  com- 
mensalism of  Fishes  and  Medusae  as  something  doubtful  and 
unknown,  but  the  following  extract  from  the  report  of  the  Eoyal 
Commission  on  the  Fisheries  of  New  South  Wales,  written 
nearly  four  years  ago,  will  show  that  the  fact  was  well 
known  to  the  Commissioners.  Alluding  to  the  Yellow-tail 
**  Trachurus  trachurus"  it  says  : — ''  The  very  young  fry  have 
a  most  extraordinary  and  ingenious  way  of  providing  for 
their  safety  and  nutrition  at  the  same  time ;  they  take  up 
their  quarters  inside  the  umbrella  of  the  large  Medusae,  where 
they  are  safe  from  their  enemies,  and  are,  without  any  exertion 
on  their  part,  supplied  with  the  minute  organisms  which  con- 
stitute their  food,  by  the  constant  current  kept  up  by  the  action 
of  the  curtain-like  cilia  of  the  animal." 

Mr.  Macleay  exhibited  a  specimen  of  the  very  remarkable  and 
rare   Fish  Siphonognathus    argyrophanes  of    Richardson.       Four 


534  NOTES    AND    EXHIBITS. 

specimens  were  received  lately  by  the  Australian  Museum  from 
South  Australia. 

Also,  a  fine  impression  of  a  fossil  plant  in  Hawkesbury 
sandstone,  from  a  quarry  near  Hunter's  Hill.  Mr.  Wilkinson 
considered  it  to  be  a  species  of  Thinnfeldia — one  of  the 
characteristic  fossils  of  the  Hawkesbury  series. 

Dr.  Cox  exhibited  a  collection  made  by  Mr.  B.  Hinde,  of 
H.M.S.  *' Diamond,"  on  the  S.E.  coast  of  New  Guinea.  Among 
the  specimens  were  : — 1.  A  spear-charm  in  the  form  of  a  beauti- 
fully carved  toy-shield,  4^  inches  by  1^,  made  from  one  valve  of 
some  very  woody  seedpod.  2.  A  bunch  of  fish  hooks  made  from 
Acacia  spines.  3.  A  belt  beaten  out  from  the  fibre  of  the  Sago 
palm,  stained  yellow  and  black.  4.  A  spear  with  a  loop  of  cane 
projecting  about  a  foot  in  advance  of  its  point,  and  a  piece  of  bamboo, 
about  9  inches  long,  and  decorated  with  feathers.  The  latter 
is  carried  in  the  mouth  of  the  warrior  who  is  pursuing  his  enemy 
with  the  looped  spear.  When  he  succeeds  in  passing  the  loop 
over  his  victim's  head,  he  keeps  him  at  bay  by  the  point,  and 
splitting  with  his  teeth  a  splinter  from  the  piece  of  bamboo,  thus 
obtains  a  knife  with  a  sharp  serrated  edge,  with  which  he  then  cuts 
the  throat  of  the  captive. 

The  President  exhibited  a  very  large  specimen  of  Echinus 
obtained  by  Mr.  H.  T.  Wilkinson,  J. P.,  from  Lord  Howe  Island.  It 
is  one  of  the  two  edible  species  found  at  the  island. 

Mr.  Alexander  Morton  exhibited: — 1.  A  dance-shield,  inlaid 
with  shell  and  decorated  with  stained  grass.  2.  Two  elaborately 
carved  food  bowls,  and  a  number  of  batons  representing  birds  and 
fishes,  similarly  inlaid.  3.  Native  combs.  4.  Two  wooden  idols, 
forming  posts  of  houses  ;  one,  a  man  carrying  a  child,  the  other, 
a  woman.  5.  A  small  covering  worn  by  women  after  marriage. 
6.  A  massive  armlet,  cut  from  the  Tridacna  shell,  weighing  about 
a  pound,  and  worn  above  the  elbow.  All  from  the  islands  of  St. 
Christoval  and  Ugi,  Solomon  Group. 


ANNUAL  GENERAL  MEETING. 


30th  January,    1884. 


The  President,  C.  S.  Wilkinson,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.,  etc.,  in  the  Chair. 


President's  Address. 

Our  Society  has  now  completed  its  ninth  year,  and  I  am  happy 
to  congratulate  the  members  upon  its  vigorous  growth.  The 
healthy  vitality  of  the  Society  is  not  to  be  gauged  by  the  number 
of  its  members,  but  by  the  nature  of  the  scientific  work  that  is 
being  accomplished. 

Australasia,  of  which  New  South  Wales  auspiciously  occupies 
nearly  the  central  position,  offers  one  of  the  most  interesting, 
fruitful,  and  unique  regions  of  the  globe,  for  a  Society  such  as  this 
which  has  been  founded  "for  the  Cultivation  and  Study  of  the 
Science  of  Natural  History.''  Here  then  we  are  privileged  to 
enter  upon  a  vast  and  almost  new  field  for  investigation.  A 
considerable  amount  of  work  has  already  been  done  in  it,  but  just 
as  in  ascending  a  lofty  hill  we  obtain  a  more  and  more  extensive 
view  of  the  country  near  us  and  beyond,  so  what  has  hitherto  been 
achieved  has  not  only  laid  down  the  base  lines  for  further  scientific 
exploration,  but  has  also  stimulated  our  interest,  for  it  has 
revealed  how  practically  unlimited  is  the  field  that  awaits  the 
research  of  the  naturalist — research  that  will  prove  of  great  value 
not  only  to  science,  but  also  to  this  country  in  particular,  in 
aiding  in  the  development  of  its  natural  resources. 

For  instance  it  is  only  two  months  ago,  that  at  our  November 
Meeting,  the  Hon.  William  Macleay,  whose  papers  on  Ichthyology 


536  president's  address. 

published  by  this  Society,  form  a  standard  work  of  reference, 
(and  for  whose  valuable  work  Catalogue  of  Australian  Fishes,  we  are 
happy  to  congratulate  him  upon  having  been  awarded  a  Gold  Medal 
at  the  recent  International  Fisheries  Exhibition  in  London), 
in  a  paper  on  some  results  of  Trawl  Fishing  outside  Port 
Jackson  at  depths  of  from  22  to  55  fathoms,  stated — "  Looked 
at  as  a  whole,  I  consider  the  results  of  the  trawling  experi- 
ment as  decidedly  promising.  The  existence  of  a  true  skate 
so  near  us  and  in  such  apparent  quantity  is  of  itself  a  valuable 
discovery  ;  the  abundance  of  the  John  Dorey  is  also  important, 
for  it  has  hitherto  been  considered  rare,  and  for  its  quality  as  a 
food  fish  it  is  unrivalled  in  the  world.  Thus  the  first  attempt  at 
deep  water  trawling  in  New  South  Wales,  whether  looked  upon  as 
successful  or  unsuccessful  proves  one  thing  incontestably,  and  that 
is  that  we  know  very  little  indeed  of  the  inhabitants  of  our  seas 
ex.ce])ting  those  which  are  mere  surface  animals."  Then  again, 
though  the  literature  of  the  botany  of  Australia  is  perhaps  more 
complete  than  that  of  any  other  branch  of  Natural  History,  we  are 
aware  that  there  is  a  large  extent  of  this  Continent  which  has  not 
yet  been  botanically  examined.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Woolls,  D.D.,  F.L.S., 
in  his  paper  on  the  Plants  of  New  South  Wales,  says,  "  The 
publication  of  the  Flora  Australiensis  through  the  joint  labours  of 
Mr.  G.  Bentham,  C.M.G.,  F.R.S.,  and  Baron  F.  von  Milller 
K.C.M.G.,  etc.,  has  formed,  as  it  were,  an  era  in  the  botany 
of  New  South  Wales.  Though  the  subject  is  by  no  means 
exhausted  that  great  work  will  be  regarded  as  the  basis  of 
all  future  treatises  on  the  Flora  of  Australia ,  and  as  the 
grand  outline  is  being  gradually  filled  up  with  descriptions 
of  new  plants  from  different  parts  of  the  Continent,  it  will 
be  seen  that  the  general  arrangement  of  the  volumes,  as 
well  as  the  classification  of  orders,  genera,  and  species,  reflects 
the  greatest  credit  on  the  distinguished  authors.  Much, 
however,  remains  to  be  done.  Since  the  appearance  of  the  first 
volume  in  1863,  some  five  or  six  hundred  nevs^  species  of  Australian 
plants  have  been  discovered,  and  these,  together  with  the  enumer- 
ation of  the    Cryptogamous     orders    recently    elaborated   in  the 


president's  address.  537 

Fragmenta  Phytogra2)liice  Australice  by  Baron  von  Miiller,  must  in 
the  course  of  time  appear  in  supplementary  volumes  to  the  Flora 
Aicstraliensis.  From  the  sources,  however,  now  before  the  public, 
some  estimate  can  be  formed  of  the  species  indigenous  to  the 
colony,  and  of  the  range  to  which  they  are  limited.  With 
regard  to  the  latter,  careful  observation  is  still  required  in  all 
parts  of  Australia,  for  plants,  which,  a  few  years  since,  were 
supposed  to  belong  to  adjacent  colonies  are  now  found  to  be 
common  to  New  South  Wales."  With  such  acknowledgment  in 
regard  to  the  work  that  yet  remains  to  be  done,  even  in  those 
lines  of  research  in  which  so  much  has  been  accomplished,  we  are 
naturally  led  to  take  cognizance  of  the  efforts  of  the  Society  in 
furtherance  of  its  object.  And  in  so  doing  we  cannot  but  be 
gratified  with  the  progress  made  at  this  early  stage  of  the  Society's 
existence.  A  perusal  of  the  eight  Volumes  of  our  Proceedings 
will  show  that  those  subjects  to  which  attention  has  been  chiefly 
directed,  are  Conchology,  Ornithology,  Botany,  Ichthyology,  Geology 
and  Entomology. 

In  Conchology  upwards  of  64  papers  have  been  contributed.  The 
first  paper  read  before  the  Society  was  entitled,  "  Descriptions  of 
fourteen  new  species  of  Shells."  By  John  Brazier,  C.M.Z.S.,  etc., 
who  has  contributed  numerous  similar  descriptive  papers.  The 
following  are  the  authors  upon  this  and  the  other  subjects  named — 
Dr.  James  C.  Cox,  F.L.S.,  Bev.  J.  Tenison- Woods,  F.L.S.,  Prof. 
Ralph  Tate,  James  Hobson,  Dr.  R.  B.  Read,  C.  R.  Rossiter, 
Professor  F.  W.  Hutton,  F.R.S. 

Ornithology. 

Mr.  E.  P.  Ramsay,  F.L.S.,  George  Masters,  K.  H.  Bennett, 
Prof.  F.  W.  Hutton,  F.R.S.,  Charles  W.  De  Vis,  B.A.,  Comte  de 

Castelnau. 

Botany. 
Rev.  W.  Woolls,  Ph.  D.,  F.L.S.,  F.  M.  Bailey,  F.L.S.,  Rev.  J. 
E.  Tenison- Woods,  F.L.S.,  Edwin  Haviland,  Rev.  C.  Kalchbrenner, 
Rev.  B.  Scortechini.  L.L.B.,  Baron  Ferd.  von  Mtlller,  C.M.G., 
M.D.,  Ph.  D.,  F.R.S.,  F.L.S.,  etc.,  Hon.  James  Norton,  M.L.C., 
K.  H.  Bennett,  William  Mitten,  A. L.S.,  P.  A.   O'Shanesy,  F.L.S. 


538  president's  address. 

Ichthyology. 
Hon.   William  Macleay,  F.L.S.,  E.  P.  Ramsay,  F.L.S.,  Comte 
de  Castelnau,  Charles  W.  De  Yis,  B.A.,  Baron  Mikloulio-Maclay, 
Dr.  H,  G.  Alleyne. 

Geology. 

Rev.  J.  E.  Tenison- Woods,  F.L.S.,  Charles  W.  De  Yis,  B.A., 
C.  S.  Wilkinson,  F.G.S.,  Charles  Jenkins,  L.S.,  Prof.  W.  J. 
Stephens,  M.A.,  Dr.  J.  C  Cox,  F.L.S.,  E.  B.  Sanger. 

Entomology. 

E.  Meyrick,  B.A.,  Hon.  W.  Macleay,  F.L  S.,  H.  H.  B.  Bradley, 
H.  R.  Whittell,  Dr.  R.  B.  Read. 

Ethnology,  Ccelenterata,  Reptilia,  Crustacea,  &c. 

Dr.  James  Cox,  F.L.S.,  C.  S.  Wilkinson,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.,  W.  A. 
Haswell,  M.A.,  B.Sc,  Rev.  J.  E.  Tenison- Woods,  F.L.S.,  E.  P. 
Ramsay.  F.L.S.,  Hon.  William  Macleay,  F.L.S.,  Baron  N.  de 
Mikloiiho-Maclay,  J.  J.  Fletcher,  M.A.,  B.Sc,  Charles  W.  De  Yis, 
B.  A.,  Dr,  H.  B.  Guppy,  R.^.,  Dr.  Thomas  Dixson,  Alex.  Morton, 
Hany  Gilliat. 

The  papers  read  number  433,  contributed  by  37  authors  of 
whom  32  are  still  members  of  the  Society,  and  though  the 
quantity  of  work  may  not  be  taken  as  a  measure  of  its 
value,  yet  it  is  specially  worthy  of  mention  not  only  as  evidence  of 
the  earnest  zeal  manifested  by  some  of  the  Members  of  the  Society, 
but  because  the  papers  chiefly  contain  the  results  of  original 
research.  Work  of  this  character  therefore  stamps  the  eight 
Yolumes  of  the  Proceedings  already  published  as  indispensable 
works  of  reference  in  regard  to  future  investigation. 

Several  branches  of  Natural  History  have,  no  doubt,  received 
less  attention  than  others,  yet  on  the  whole  I  think  that  the 
Society,  so  far,  has  not  failed  in  its  object,  and  that  the  hope 
expressed  eight  years  ago  by  the  Founder  of  the  Society,  the  Hon* 
William  Macleay,  in  the  first  Anniversary  Address  has  been 
realized,  viz.  : — That  a  Society  entirely  devoted  to  the  Cultivation 
of  Natural  History  might  be  successfully  carried  on  in  Sydney. 


president's  address.  539 

The  time  has  not  yet  arrived  for  reckoning  the  harvest,  we  are 
as  vet  reapers  in  the  field.  But  we  are  justified  and  it  is  our  duty 
on  the  occasion  of  our  Annual  Meeting  to  night  to  note  the 
progress  made  by  the  Society ;  and  I  am  hapi^y  to  state  that  its 
position  is  satisfactory.  The  list  of  members  now  numbers  153 
against  132  at  the  close  of  l882,  31  new  members  having  been 
elected.  But  it  is  with  feelings  of  sorrow  that  we  record  the  loss 
of  seven  by  death.— Mr.  J.  J.  Galloway,  Dr.  R.  L.  Jenkins,  Mr. 
Alfred  Sandeman,  Hon.  E.  K.  Cox,  all  of  whom  were  original 
members,  the  others  were  Mr.  W.  Macdonald,  elected  in  1876. 
The  Most  Rev.  Roger  Bede  Yaughan,  Archbishop  of  Sydney, 
elected  1877,  and  the  Rev.  John  Forrest,  D.D.,  elected  1877. 

Our  Council  and  Monthly  Meetings  until  July  were  held,  by 
the  permission  of  the  Trustees,  in  the  Board  Room  of  the  Free 
Public  Library.  Since  then  the  Society  has  occupied  the  com- 
modious house  in  which  we  are  now  assembled.  For  this  privilege 
we  are  indebted  to  the  Hon.  W.  Macleay,  and  the  Council  at  its 
meeting  in  August  resolved  unanimously,  "  That  upon  this  first 
meeting  in  the  rooms  provided  for  the  Society's  use  by  Mr. 
Macleay's  liberality,  the  Council  place  upon  record  their  very 
sincere  sense  of  the  great  obligations  under  which  both  in  this  and 
other  respects  they  have  been  laid  by  the  thoughtful  kindness  of 
that  gentleman." 

A  Draft  Bill  for  the  incorporation  of  the  Linnean  Society  of 
New  South  Wales  was  submitted  by  the  Council  and  adopted  at  a 
Special  General  Meeting  of  the  Society  held  on  28th  September, 
1883.  The  Bill  was  introduced  in  the  Legislature  by  the  Hon.  W. 
Bede  Dalley,  Q.C.,  Attorney-General ;  it  has  passed  the  third 
reading,  and  will  probably  become  law  within  the  next  few  weeks. 
The  Society  will  then  have  a  recognised  legal  status. 

In  September  last  Professor  Stephens  brought  forward  a  motion 
for  the  establishment  of  a  Library  fund,  and  by  direction  of  the 
Council  circulars  were  sent  to  all  the  members  of  the  Society, 
inviting  subscriptions  towards  it,  to  be  devoted  entirely  to  the 
purchase  of  useful  works  of   reference  on  Natural  History.     In 


540  president's  address. 

answer  to  this  circular  numerous  subscriptions  were  sent  in,  and 
the  Council  has  already  obtained  many  necessary  and  standard 
works. 

Since  the  last  Annual  General  Meeting  in  January,  1883,  377 
additions  have  been  made  to  the  Library.  In  no  previous  year  of  the 
Society's  existence  has  such  a  number  of  donations  been  received. 
Early  in  February  the  Smithsonian  Institution  generously  jDre- 
sented  a  number  of  its  "  Contributions  to  Knowledge,"  and 
"  Miscellaneous  Collections;"  and  the  Imperial  Academy  of  Science 
of  St.  Petersburg  sent  17  volumes  of  its  publications.  Later  in 
the  year,  the  Imperial  Zoological  and  Botanical  Society  of  Vienna 
forwarded  a  nearly  complete  set  (35  volumes)  of  its  well-know^n 
"  Verhandlungen ;"  the  Entomological  Society  of  London,  un- 
solicited, replaced  the  volumes  of  its  Transactions,  which  were  lost 
in  the  Garden  Palace  fire ;  Dr.  James  Cox  presented  a  large 
collection  of  Natural  History  publications ;  and  Professor  W.  J. 
Stephens  21  volumes  of  Dr.  Petermann's  •' Geographische  Mitthe- 
lungen."  Many  other  valuable  works  were  received  from  the  Hon. 
William  Macleay,  Hon.  P.  G.  King,  and  others ;  and  every  month 
during  the  year  we  have  been  indebted  to  a  large  number  of 
Societies  and  individuals  for  works  which  will  prove  of  the  greatest 
service  to  the  working  members  of  the  Society.  Besides  the  above, 
Mr.  H(3nry  Deane,  M.A,,  A.M.I.C.E.,  has  lent  a  complete  set  of 
the  Palseontographical  Society's  Proceedings,  30  volumes  of  the 
Proceedings  of  the  Zoological  Society  of  London,  18  volumes  of  the 
Journal  of  the  Poyal  Microscopical  Society,  and  several  other 
works. 

You  will  be  glad  to  hear  from  the  Honorary  Treasurer,  the  Hon. 
James  Norton,  M.L.C.,  that  the  Council  will  commence  the 
business  of  the  new  year  with  a  balance  in  hand  of  £179  12s.  Id. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  Pa2:>ers  read  at  the  Monthly 
Meetings  during  the  year  1883  : — 

1.  "  On  a  new  form  of  Mullet  from  New  Guinea."  By  William 
Macleay,  E.L.S.,  &c. 

2.  "  On  the  Anatomy  of  the  Urogenital  Organs  in  Females  of  cer- 
tain species  of  Kangaroo  "  (No.  2).   By  J.  J.  Fletcher,  M.  A.,  B.Sc. 


president's  address.  541 

3.  "  On  the  remains  of  an  extinct  Marsupial."  By  Charles  W. 
De  Vis,  B.A. 

4.  "  Contributions  to  the  Zoology  of  New  Guinea,"  Part  VII.  By 
E.  P.  Ramsay,  F.L.S. 

5.  "  On  a  new  species  of  Tree  Kangaroo  from  New  Guinea."  By 
the  same  author, 

6.  "  On  some  habits  of  PelojocBus  Icetu^  and  a  species  of  Larrada" 
By  H.  B.  Whittell. 

7.  "  On  the  voracity  of  a  species  of  Heterostoma."  By  the  same 
author. 

8.  "On  the  Coal  Flora  of  Australia."  By  the  Rev.  J.  E.  Tenison- 
Woods,  F.L.S.,  F.G.S. 

9.  '^  Further  contributions  to  the  Flora  of  Queensland."  By  the 
Rev.  B.  Scortechini,  F.L.S. 

10.  "  Descriptions  of  two  new  Fungi."  By  the  Rev.  Carl 
Kalchbrenner. 

11.  "Notes  on  the  Fructification  of  the  Bunya-Bunya  in 
Sydney."     By  the  Hon.  James  Norton,  M.L.C. 

12.  "  Descriptions  of  some  new  Fishes  from  Port  Jackson."  By 
E.  P.  Ramsay,  F.L.S. 

13.  "Notes  on  the  Tuena  Gold-Reefs."  By  F.  Ratte,  Mining 
Engineer.     (Read  by  the  President.) 

14.  "  Occasional  Notes  on  Plants  indigenous  in  the  immediate 
neighbourhood  of  Sydney,"  No.  3.     By  Edwin  Haviland. 

15.  "On  tooth-marked  bones  of  extinct  Marsupials."  By  Chas. 
W.  De  Vis,  B.A. 

16.  "On  Brachalletes  Palmeri,  an  extinct  Marsupial."  By  the 
same  author. 

17.  "  On  the  habits  of  the  '  Mallee  Hen'  (Leii^oa  Ocellata)r  By 
K.  H.  Bennett. 

18.  "  Notes  on  a  collection  of  Fishes  from  the  Burdekin  and 
Mary  Rivers,  Queensland."     By  William  Macleay,  F.L.S.,  &c. 

19.  "  Notes  on  a  viviparous  Lizard."  By  J.  J.  Fletcher,  M.A., 
B.Sc. 

20.  "  Notes  on  a  method  of  obtaining  water  from  Eucalyptus 
roots,  as  practised  by  the  natives  of  the  country  between  the 
Lachlan  and  Darling  Rivers."     By  K.  H.  Bennett. 


542  president's  address. 

21.  "  Notes  on  a  lower  jaw  of  Palwchestes  AzaeV'     By  Clias. 
W.  De  Yis,  B.A. 

22.  *'  Synonymy  of  Australian  and  Polynesian  Land  and  Marine 
Mollusca."     By  John  Brazier,  C.M.Z.S.,  &c. 

23.  "  On  some  Mesozoic  Fossils  from  Central  Australia."     By 
the  Rev.  J.  E.  Tenison- Woods,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S. 

24.  "  Contribution   to   a    knowledge    of    the    fishes    of   New 
Guinea."     No.  4.  By  William  Macleay,  F.L.S. 

25.  "  A  second  half-century  of  Plants  new  to  South  Queens- 
land."    By  the  Rev.  B.  Scortechini,  F.L.S. 

26.  "  Descriptions  of  new  genera  and  species  of  Fishes."       Bj 
Chas.  W.  de  Yis,  B.A. 

27.  "A   fourth  paper  on  Plants  indigenous  in  the  immediate 
neighbourhood  of  Sydney."     By  E.  Haviland. 

28.  "  Localities  of  some  species  of  Polynesian  recent  Mollusca." 
By  John  Brazier,  C.M.Z.S. 

29.  On  the  Myology  of  the  Frilled  Lizard,"    {Chlamydosaurus 
Kingii).     By  Chas.  W.  De  Yis,  B.A. 

30.  "Descriptions    of    Australian    Microlepidoptera,"    I^o.    9. 
By  E.  Meyrick,  B.A. 

31.  "Some   remarks   on  the  action  of  Tannin  on   Infusoria.' 
By  Harry  Gilliat. 

32.  "  On  a  fossil  Calvaria."     By  Chas.  W.  De  Yis,  B  A. 

33.  "  Remarks  upon   the    skull   of   an    Australian   aboriginal 
from  the  Lachlan  District."     By  Baron  N.  de  Miklouho-Maclay. 

34.  "  On    a    very     dolichocephalic     skull    of    an     Australian 
aboriginal  "     By  the  same  author. 

35.  "  On  a  fossil  humerus."     By  Chas.  W.  De  Yis,  B.A. 

36.  "  Notices  of  some  undescribed  species  of  Coleoptera  from 
the  Brisbane  Museum."     By  William  Macleay,  F.L.S.,  &c. 

37.  "Occasional  Notes  on  Plants  indigenous  to  the  immediate 
neighbourhood  of  Sydney,"  No.  5.      By  Edward  Haviland. 

38.  "  Notes  on  the  temperature  of  the  body  of  the  Echidna 
hystrix."     By  Baron  N.  de  Miklouho-Maclay. 

39.  "On    the    Plagiostomata    of   the    Pacific,"    Part    II.      By 
Baron  N.  de  Miklouho-Maclay  and  William  Macleay,  F.L.S.,  &c. 


president's  address.  543 

40.  "  Notes  on  some  Reptiles  from  the  Herbert  River,  Queens- 
land."    By  William  Macleay,  RL.S.,  &c. 

41.  "Notes  on  some  customs  of  the  aboriginal  tribes  of  the 
Albert  District,  New  South  Wales."  By  C.  S.  Wilkinson, 
F.G.S.,  F.L.S.,  President. 

42.  "  On  the  Brain  of  Grey's  Whale  {Kogia  GreyV)  By 
William  A.  Haswell,  M.A.,  B.Sc. 

43.  "On  a  New  Genus  of  Fishes  from  Port  Jackson."  By 
William  Macleay,  F.L.S.,  &c. 

44.  "  Some  Fishes  of  New  Britain  and  the  adjoining  islands." 
By  Chas.  W.  De  Vis,  B.A. 

45.  "  Some  results  of  Trawl  fishing  outside  Port  Jackson." 
By  William  Macleay,  F.L.S.,  &c. 

46.  "  On  the  localities  of  some  Plants  from  the  southern  parts 
of  New  South  Wales."  By  Baron  Ferd.  von  Mueller,  K.C.M.G., 
F.R.S.,  &c. 

47.  "  Descriptions  of  Australian  Microlepidoptera,"  No.  10. 
By  E.  Meyrick,  B.A. 

48.  **  Notes  on  the  Geology  of  the  Southern  Portion  of  the 
Clarence  River  Basin."     By  Professor  Stephens,  M.A. 

49.  "  Dimensions  of  some  gigantic  Land  Tortoises."  By  J.  C. 
Cox,  M.D.,  F.L.S.,  &c. 

The  proceedings  of  the  Society  during  the  year  have  been 
published  with  their  customary  regularity.  This  gratifying  result 
is  due  almost  entirely  to  the  untiring  energy  of  the  Honorary 
Secretaries,  the  Hon.  W.  Macleay  and  Professor  Stephens,  to 
whom  we  also  owe  the  printed  Monthly  Abstract  of  Proceedings, 
by  which,  within  two  days  after  each  meeting,  the  members 
receive  a  brief  but  accurate  account  of  all  that  transpires. 

Another  part — Part  8 — of  Australian  Orchids,  by  R.  D.  Fitz- 
gerald, F.L.S.,  has  just  been  issued  from  the  Government  Printing 
Office.  In  Part  7,  which  completes  the  first  volume,  there  is  a 
Synopsis  of  the  29  genera  and  104  species  described,  giving  in 
tabulated  form,  the  authorities  for  the  nomenclature,  localities, 
and  the  characters  of  the  orchids ;  to  this  is  added  a  Synopsis  of 
distribution.     In  this  beautifully  illustrated  work  the  marvellous 


544  president's  address. 

arrangements  for  tlie  fertilization  of  the  flowers,  by  insects  and 
other  agents,  are  described  ;  and  it  is  interesting  to  know  that  out 
of  the  104  species  above-mentioned,  93  are  fertilized  by  insects, 
the  remainder  being  self-fertilized. 

I  am  glad  to  see  that  this  subject  has  also  been  taken  up  by 
another  of  our  members,  Mr.  E.  Haviland,  who  has  contributed 
several  papers,  giving  the  result  of  his  observations  upon  certain 
plants  indigenous  to  the  immediate  neighbourhood  of  Sydney. 
When  the  processes  have  been  discovered  by  which  the  varied, 
beautiful  and  to  us  useful  forms  of  plant  life  are  developed,  who 
shall  say  what  benefits  may  not  result  in  the  production  of  im- 
proved varities  of  fodder  plants,  cereals,  fruits,  and  flowers,  when 
these  processes,  which  are  now  dependent  upon  the  instincts  of 
insects,  &c.,  shall  have  been  directed  by  the  intelligence  of  man. 
What  has  already  been  accomplished  in  this  direction  warrants  the 
belief  that  this  is  one  of  the  most  important  subjects  that  can 
ensage  the  attention  of  Naturalists. 

An  English  translation  by  D'Arcy  W.  Thompson,  B,A.,  of 
Professor  Hermann  Muller's  great  work  on  the  Fertilization  of 
Flowers,  has  been  published  during  the  past  year.  The  value  of 
this  translation  is  perhaps  enhanced  from  the  fact  that  the 
systematic  part  of  the  book,  which  is  arranged  on  Endlicher's 
system  in  the  German  edition,  has  been  re-arranged  according  to 
Bentham  and  Hooker's  Genera  Plantarum.  In  reference  to 
cross-fertilization  Professor  Miiller  says  :~ "  The  good  eflect  of 
cross-fertilization  may  be  recognized,  not  only  in  the  structure  of 
insect-fertilized   flowers,  but  also  in  the  water-fertilized  and  the 

wind-fertilized  plants  which  proceeded  them Insects 

in  cross-fertilizing  flowers  endow  them  with  an  offspring  which  in 
the  struggle  for  existence  vanquish  those  individuals  of  the  same 
species  which  are  the  oSspring  of  self-fertilization.  The  insects 
must  therefore  operate  by  selection  in  the  same  way  as  do 
unscientific  cultivators  among  men,  who  preserve  the  most 
pleasing  or  most  useful  specimens,  and  reject  or  neglect  the  others. 
In  both  cases  selection  in  course  of  time  brings  those  variations  to 
perfection'which  correspond  to  the  tastes  or  to  the  needs  of  the 
selective  agent.     Diff'erent  groups  of  insects,    according  to  their 


president's  address.  545 

sense  of  taste  or  colour,  the  length  of  their  tongues,  their  way  of 
movement  and  their  dexterity,  have  produced  various  odours, 
colours,    and    forms    of  flowers  ;    and    insects    and    flowers    have 

progressed  together   tow^ards  perfection The  forms, 

colours,  and  odours  of  the  flowei'S  in  a  particular  region  must 
depend  in  the  closest  manner  upon  the  insect  fauna  of  the  region, 
and  especially  upon  the  relative  abundance  in  it  of  the  various 
classes  of  insects." 

I  am  informed  by  Dr.  J.  C.  Cox,  President  of  the  Fisheries 
Commission,  that  soon  after  the  15th  August,  1882,  the  Com- 
mission wrote  to  the  Trustees  of  the  Australian  Museum,  asking 
them  to  co-operate  in  preparing  a  collection  of  fish  fauna  for  the 
Fisheries  Exhibition  intended  to  be  held  in  London.  A  large 
number  of  exhibits  were  collected  and  prepared,  but  with  the 
exception  of  one  case  of  exhibits,  which  were  at  Mr.  Macleay's 
Museum,  all  were  destroyed  with  the  Garden  Palace.  The  Com- 
missioners then  commenced  de  novo,  and  got  together  a  collection 
of  fishes  of  all  kinds,  tinned  fish  and  oysters,  smoked  fish,  and  fish 
products  as  oils,  &c.  ;  a  fresh  set  of  paintings  of  fish  were  also 
prepared,  together  with  fishing  nets  and  models  of  boats. 

The  Australian  Museum  also  prepared  a  very  large  and  compre- 
hensive collection  of  food  fishes,  &c.,  in  spirits  and  stufTed  ;  also 
exhibits  of  seals  and  dugong. 

The  Curator,  Mr.  E.  P.  Ramsay,  was  appointed  by  the  Govern- 
ment to  proceed  to  London  to  take  charge  of  and  arrange  the  New 
South  Wales  Courts ;  and  we  must  congratulate  him  upon  the 
result  of  his  efforts  ;  for  the  exhibits  of  fish  fauna  in  the  New 
South  Wales  Court  obtained  a  larger  percentage  of  first  and 
second  class  awards  than  those  of  any  other  Court,  viz.  : — 13 
gold,  10  silver,  and  three  bronze  medals,  and  one  diploma  of 
merit. 

During  Mr.  Pamsay's  absence  Mr.  W.  A.  Haswell,  M.A., 
B.Sc,  has  been  the  Acting  Curator  of  the  Australian  Museum. 
Besides  numerous  additions  to  the  collections  the  following  publi- 
cations have  been  issued  from  this  institution  : — Catalogue  of 
Library ;  Catalogue  oj  the  Hydroid  Zoo^jhytes,  by   W.  M.  Bale ; 


546  president's  address. 

Catalogue  of  the  collections  of  Fossils  ;  and  Oidde  to  the  contents 
of  the  Museum,  which  specially  points  out  the  arrangements  of 
the  different  collections. 

A  question  of  great  importance,  and  one  which  this  Society 
must  regard  with  interest,  is  the  sudden  spread  of  Rabbits  which 
have  now  infected  nearly  one  third  of  the  colony,  chiefly  in  the 
south-western  districts.  This  immigration  is  an  alarming  one,  for 
it  is  stated  that  a  single  pair  of  rabbits,  if  they  and  their  progeny 
were  let  alone  by  their  enemies,  would  in  the  course  of  three 
years  multiply  to  more  than  3,000,000.  In  view  of  the  importance 
and  urgency  of  this  matter  the  Parliament  last  year  passed  a 
measure — ^^  The  Uahhit  Nuisance  Act,  1883" — to  deal  with  it  in 
an  effective  manner. 

This  Act  has  now  been  in  force  for  about  seven  months,  and  is 
working  well ;  but  through  the  shearing  intervening,  and  the 
prevalence  of  drought  in  a  good  many  of  the  infested  districts, 
the  work  of  extermination  has  not  progressed  so  rapidly  as  it 
would  otherwise  have  done ;  although  it  is  believed  that  the  spread 
of  the  pest  has  to  a  large  extent  been  checked. 

You  will  be  pleased  to  hear  that  since  the  destruction  of  the 
Mining  and  Geological  Museum  in  the  Garden  Palace  fire,  a 
splendid  collection  of  rocks,  minerals,  and  fossils  has  been  brought 
together,  thanks  to  the  energy  of  the  oflicers  of  the  Department 
of  Mines  and  the  practical  sympathy  of  many  private  persons 
The  specimens  have  been  labelled  by  Mr.  J.  E.  Carne,  the  Curator, 
and  will  at  once  be  available  for  public  display  as  soon  as  the 
Museum  accommodation  has  been  provided.  From  this  collection 
two  fine  series  of  specimens,  illustrating  the  mineral  resources  of 
New  South  Wales,  have  been  arranged  and  sent  to  the  Amsterdam 
and  Calcutta  Exhibitions,  and  these  cannot  fail  to  show  to  the 
world  the  varied  nature  of  our  mineral  wealth. 

Recently  the  Department  of  Mines  has  issued  a  Geological 
Map  of  part  of  the  Forest  Gold  Field,  by  Mr.  H.  Y.  L.  Brown. 
The  main  features  shown  are  volcanic  flows  over  granite, 
metamorphic,  Devonian,  and  Silurian  limestones  ;  but  in  some  of 


president's  address.  547 

the  old  valleys  and  beneath  the  basalt,  occur  the  Tertiary  gold- 
bearing  drifts,  and  this  map,  with  its  accompanying  sections,  is 
of  special  interest  as  showing  the  large  extent  of  auriferous 
countiy  covered  by  the  basalt  and  which  has  not  yet  been 
prospected. 

The  inauguration  of  a  system  of  Technical  Education  by  the 
Hon.  G.  H.  Reid,  M.P.,  Minister  for  Public  Instruction,  is  one  of 
the  most  important  events  of  the  past  year.  A  Technical  College 
has  for  the  last  four  years  been  successfully  conducted  by  the 
Committee  of  the  Sydney  School  of  Arts,  but  this  has  now  been 
transferred  to  the  Board  of  Technical  Education  recently  appointed 
by  the  Government.  A  glance  at  the  curriculum  issued  by  the 
Board  will  show  that  the  industrial  classes  have  now  the  means 
placed  within  their  reach  for  learning  "the  science  and  principles 
underlying  their  handicrafts."  Instruction  has  been  provided  for 
in  several  branches  of  natural  history  science — botany,  geology,  &c.; 
and  thus  this  Society  cannot  but  feel  a  direct  interest  in  a  move- 
ment which  has  for  its  object  the  application  of  the  principles  of 
science  to  the  industrial  arts.  Science  lectures  are  to  be  delivered 
in  the  principal  towns  throughout  the  colony,  which  may  be  the 
means  of  calling  out  the  latent  abilities  of  many  young  persons 
who  may  render  great  service  to  their  country. 

The  Technological,  Industrial  and  Sanitary  Museum  of  New 
South  Wales,  which  has  been  arranged  by  the  energetic  Curator, 
Mr.  J.  H.  Maiden,  under  the  direction  of  Sir  Alfred  Boberts, 
Professor  Liversidge,  and  Mr.  Robert  Hunt,  was  opened  to  the 
public  for  the  first  time  in  December  last.  The  object  of  this 
Museum  is  to  exhibit  "  typical  collections  of  all  materials  of 
economic  value  belonging  to  the  animal,  vegetable  and  mineral 
kingdoms,  from  the  raw  material  through  the  various  stages  of 
manufacture  to  the  final  product  of  finished  article  ready  for  use." 
In  connection  with  the  above-mentioned  system  of  Technical 
Education,  this  institution  must  prove  of  great  public  utility. 

A  successful  effort  has  been  made  during  the  past  year  to 
establish  a  Geographical  Society  of  Australia,  with  its  headquarters 
in  Sydney,  and  branches  of  equal  rank  in  the  other  colonies.  This 
Al2 


548  president's  address. 

young  association,  of  wliicli  Professor  W.  J.  Stephens,  M.A.,  is  the 
Vice-President,  has  ah-eady  placed  itself  in  communication  with  the 
principal  Geographical  Societies  in  the  old  world,  and  has  received 
gratifying  assurances  of  goodwill  and  offers  of  assistance.  The 
question  of  the  exploration  of  New  Guinea,  which  was  proposed 
as  a  special  object  for  the  operations  of  the  Society,  has  been 
placed  in  abeyance  for  the  present.  There  can,  however,  be  no 
doubt  that  Geographical  science  will  receive  valuable  acquisitions 
from  the  establishment  of  such  a  centre  of  research  in  this 
still  but  partially  explored  region. 

The  Zoological  Society  of  Sydney  has  already  achieved  very 
considerable  success.  Their  funds  are  rapidly  augmenting,  their 
oTounds  and  accommodation  much  increased,  and  the  nucleus  of  a 
very  valuable  and  instructive  collection  of  examples  of  all 
branches  of  the  animal  kingdom  has  been  already  formed.  Their 
gardens  have  become  a  place  of  popular  resort,  and  the  vigour  of 
the  administration  promises  a  great  future. 

The  University  of  Sydney,  which  has  from  the  first  recognised 
the  importance  of  Scientific  teaching,  so  far  as  Chemistry  and 
Physics  are  involved,  and  has  also  introduced  the  study  of 
Physical  Geography  and  Geology,  in  accordance  with  the  terms  of 
the  late^Captain  Hovell's  bequest,  has  also,  two  years  ago,  added 
two  new  schools  of  Medicine  and  Science.  It  has  been  decided 
that  the  first  year  of  the  undergraduates  course  shall  be  devoted 
to  Arts,  whatever  be  the  ultimate  destination  of  his  studies,  so 
that  the  special  schools  would  not  commence  work  before  the 
beginning  of  the  second  academical  year.  And  though  as  yet 
the  numbers  are  inconsiderable,  there  is  much  ground  for  con- 
gratulation as  to  the  steps  already  secured,  and  for  hope  of 
increased  progress  in  the  future.  Chemistry  and  Physics  are 
included  in  the  Arts  course  of  the  first  year,  but  Biological 
studies  are  deferred  to  the  second.  Mr.  Macleay  has,  as  usual^ 
offered  liberal  assistance  to  the  study  of  Biological  Science.  He 
offers  each  year  two  Exhibitions  of  £60  each,  tenable  for  three 
years,  to  such  aspirants  to  scientific  distinction  as  shall  pass  the 
matriculation  examination  and  satisfy  the  following  conditions : — 


president's  address.  549 

1st.  Tliey  must  be  bona  fide  residents  in  the  country.  2ncl. 
They  must  show  that  they  require  some  extraneous  aid  in  order 
to  live  in  Sydney  and  attend  the  regular  lectures.  3rd.  They 
must  undertake  to  complete,  to  the  best  of  their  power,  the  three 
year's  course,  and  so  proceed  to  their  degree  ;  and  that  Geology 
and  Biological  Science  shall  form  an  essential  portion  of  their 
studies  for  the  degree.  These  exhibitions  are  tenable  by  persons 
of  either  sex. 

The  following  Papers  were  read  before  the  Royal  Society  of 
New  South  Wales  during  the  session  of  1883  : — 

May  2— President's  Address.     By  Chr.  Rolleston,  C.M.G. 

June  6 — On  the  Aborigines  inhabiting  the  great  Lacustrine  and 
Eiverine  Depression  of  the  Lower  Murray,  Lower  Murrumbidgee, 
Lower  Lachlan,  and  Lower  Darling.     By  Peter  Beveridge. 

July  4— On  the  Waianamatta  Shales.  By  the  Eev.  J.  E. 
Tenison- Woods,  F.G.S.,  F.L.S.,  &c. 

July  4 — Further  remarks  on  Australian  S  trophalosia,  and 
description  of  a  new  species  of  Aucella  from  the  Cretaceous  Bocks 
of  North-east  Australia.     By  Robert  Etheridge,  junr.,  F.G.S. 

August  1— On  Plants  used  by  the  Natives  of  North  Queensland, 
Flinders  and  Mitchell  Rivers,  for  food,  medicine,  &c.  By  Edward 
Palmer,  M.L,A.  (Queensland). 

September  5 — Notes  on  the  genus  Macrozamia,  with  descriptions 
of  some  new  species.     By  Charles  Moore,  F.L.S.,  Y.P. 

September  5— A  list  of  Double  Stars.  By  H.  C.  Russell,  B.A., 
F.R.A.S. 

September  5 — Some  facts  connected  with  Irrigation.  By  H.  C. 
Russell,  B.A.,  F.R.A.S. 

September  5 — On  the  discolouration  of  white  bricks  made  from 
certain  clays  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Sydney.  By  E.  H.  Rennie, 
B.A.,  D.Sc. 

October  3— On  the  Roots  of  the  Sugar-Cane.  By  Henry  Ling 
Roth,  F.M.S.,  F.S.S. 

November  7 — On  Irrigation  in  Upper  India.  By  H.  G. 
McKimiey,  M.E.,  A.M.I.C.E. 


550  president's  address. 

Xovember  7 — On  Tanks  and  Wells  of  New  South  Wales.  Water 
Supply  and  Irrigation.     By  A.  Pepys  Wood. 

December  5 — Additions  to  the  Census  of  the  Genera  of  Plants 
hitherto  known  as  indigenous  to  Australia.  By  Baron  Ferd.  von 
Mueller,  K.C.M.G.,  M.D.,  Ph.D.,  F.R.S.,  &c. 

The  Royal  Society  offers  its  Medal  and  a  money  prize  of  £25 
for  the  best   communication  (provided  it   be   of  sufficient  merit) 
containing   the  results  of  original  research  or  observation,  upon 
each  of  the  following  subjects  : — 
Series  III. — To  he  sent  in  not  later  than  Sejyteviber  30th,  188 4: 
No.  9. — Origin  and  mode  of  occurrence  of  gold-bearing  veins 
and  of  the  associated  minerals. 
10. — Influence    of    the    Australian  climate  in    producing 

modifications  of  diseases. 

11. — On  the  Infusoria  peculiar  to  Australia. 

12  — On  Water  Supply  in  the  interior  of  New  South  Wales. 

The  Honorary  Secretaries  state  that  the  Society  is  fully  sensible 

that  the  money  value  of  the  prize  will  not  repay   an  investigator 

for  the  expenditure  of   his  time  and  labour,  but  it   is  hoped  that 

the  honour  will  be  regarded  as  a  sufficient  inducement  and  reward. 

With  reference  to  the  progress  of  science  in  Victoria,  Mr.  R. 
L.  J.  EUery,  F.R.S.,  Government  Astronomer,  in  his  Presidential 
Address,  delivered  in  September,  on  the  occasion  of  the  com- 
memoration of  the  25  th  session  of  the  Royal  Society  of  Victoria, 
states  "that  the  several  national  scientific  and  technical  depart- 
ments have  been  in  active  operation  during  the  year,  and  with 
them,  as  with  ourselves,  satisfactory  progress  is  manifested. 
There  is  an  undoubted  and  general  increase  in  the  desire  for 
knowledge  in  the  various  p  ure  and  applied  sciences,  and  especially 
as  applied  to  technical  training  and  to  the  daily  requirements  of 
life.  Some  new  Societies  for  the  prosecution  of  study  and 
research,  more  especially  in  natural  science,  have  come  into 
existence  in  the  provinces,  and  the  older  societies  and  schools  are 
increasing  in  their  good  influence  and  usefulness.  The  School 
of    Technology  and    Museums,  presided   over    by    our    talented 


president's  address.  551 

member,  Mr.  Cosmo  Newbery,  continue  doing  good  work  in  our 
midst.  The.  collections  of  the  Industrial  and  Technological 
Museum  have  been  largely  increased  during  the  past  year  by  the 
additions  of  specimens  in  each  section  and  several  new  divisions 
have  been  formed.  It  may  be  mentioned  that  the  knowledge 
derived  from  the  museum  collection  of  Indian  timber  has  led  to 
the  opening  of  a  new  trade  between  this  colony  and  India.  Our 
National  Museum  already  shows  signs  of  being  cramped  for  room, 
and  the  Director,  Professor  McCoy,  during  the  past  year,  has 
directed  his  attention  to  additions  of  such  classes  as  occupy  small 
space,  and  has  therefore  devoted  his  work  chiefly  to  the  zoological 
and  geogi'aphical  classification  of  insects,  and  in  filling  up  gaps  in 
the  collection  of  shells."  Mr.  Ellery  then  refers  at  some  length  to 
"  one  or  two  interesting  astronomical  events.  First,  the  apparition 
in  September  of  the  Great  Comet  of  1882,  then  the  transit  of 
\^enus  in  December,  and  subsequently  the  determination  hy 
telegraph  of  the  difi'erences  of  longitude  between  Singapore  and 
Port  Darwin,  and  then  between  Port  Darwin,  Adelaide,  Melbourne 
and  Sydney." 

Mr.  E.  A.  F.  Murray,  Government  Geologist  of  Victoria,  has 
been  surveying  the  country  about  Rodborough,  which  is  interest- 
ing, as  containing  the  northern  continuation  of  the  combined 
Creswick,  Kingston,  Smeaton  and  Clunes  auriferous  lead-systems. 

The  deep  borings  for  Coal  at  Port  Arlington,  Colac,  or  Coleraine 
have  not  been  successful  in  striking  a  payable  seam  of  coal ;  but 
in  the  eastern  mesozoic  area  a  seam  up  to  2  feet  8  inches  thick  of 
first-class  coal  has  been  opened,  and  Mr.  Murray  considers  that  it 
extends  for  many  square  miles. 

Dr.  P.  H.  Macgilliv)'ay,  of  Sandhurst,  has  been  adding  largely 
to  our  knowledge  of  living  Folyzoa,  and  has  described  and  illus- 
trated a  large  number  of  new  species  in  papers  read  before  the 
Royal  Society. 

One  of  the  most  indefatigable  scientific  workers  in  Australia, 
is  Mr.  A.  W.  Howitt,  F.G.S.,  Police  Magistrate  of  Sale,  Victoria. 
Mr.  Howitt  has  been  steadily  working  out  the  Geology  and 
Mineralogy  of  his  large  district,  and  has  published  several  papers 


552  president's  address. 

in  that  department,  including  microscopical  examinations  of  the 
igneous  rocks.  He  has  also  been  investigating  the  habits  and 
beliefs  of  various  tribes  of  Australian  aborigines,  and  several 
interesting  contributions  of  his  have  been  published  in  London 
by  the  Anthropological  Institute. 

The  second  decade  of  Observations  upon  New  Vegetable  Fossils 
of  the  auriferous  drifts,  has  been  lately  issued  by  the  Victorian 
Government.  This  is  a  valuable  addition  to  the  former  work  of  Baron 
Ferd.  von  Mueller,  C.M.G.,  M.D.,  Ph.  D.,  F.R.S.,  F.L.S.,  etc., 
Government  Botanist,  who  has  done  so  much  towards  the  elucida- 
tion of  the  Tertiary  flora.  I  am  informed  that  the  ninth  and 
tenth  decades  of  the  Eucalyptograjohia  have  been  completed  by  this 
distinguished  botanist,  who  has  also  written  a  supplement  to  his 
Systematic  Census  of  Australian  Plants,  It  is  gratifying  to 
know  that  the  Select  Plants  for  Industrial  Culture  and  Naturali- 
zation, of  which  work  the  Government  of  New  South  Wales 
brought  out  an  enlarged  edition  in  1881,  is  passing  now  for 
the  sixth  time  in  the  English  language  through  the  Press  by  the 
generous  interest  of  Mr.  G.  Davis,  the  celebrated  scientific 
publisher  of  Detroit,  Michigan.  As  a  manual  for  the  acclima- 
tization of  plants,  the  work  has  been  translated  and  slightly 
altered  by  Prof.  Charl  Nandin  of  Antibes,  a  member  of  the 
Institute  of  France  ;  Spanish  and  Portuguese  translations  are  also 
in  progress,  for  which  the  Baron  has  furnished  some  addenda. 
The  Members  of  the  Society  will  be  glad  to  learn  that  the 
publication  on  Pajnian  Plants  will  be  continued  during  the 
present  year  as  new  material  has  been  forwarded  to  the  Baron. 
The  twelfth  Volume  of  the  ''  Fragrtienta,"  is  now  in  progress. 

In  a  letter  which  I  have  lately  received  Baron  von  Mueller 
makes  the  following  remarks  regarding  this  Society,  which  with 
your  permission  I  will  read  :  "  The  Members  of  the  Linnean  Society 
of  New  South  Wales,  will  be  sad  to  learn  that  the  venerable 
George  Bentham,  who  spent  a  large  portion  of  his  valuable  time 
for  seventeen  years  on  the  elaboration  of  the  Flora  Austra- 
liensis,  is  by  the  infirmities  concomitant  to  his  high  age,  prevented 
from  continuing  his  great  labours,  which   early  last  year  with  the 


president's  address.  553 

completion  of  his  and  Sir  Joseph  Hooker's  Genera  Plantarum 
drew  to  a  close.  In  a  letter  written  in  November  last  to  me,  he 
sketched  with  a  few  words  his  brilliant  career,  which  passage  I  beg 
to  copy  with  a  hope  that  you  will  insert  it  in  your  Annual  Presi- 
dential Address,  especially  as  Bentham  was  for  a  series  of  years 
President  of  the  parent  Linnean  Society,  and  I  would  simultaneously 
suggest  that  the  Linnean  Society  of  New  South  Wales  may  elect 
this  illustrious  man,  who  has  done  so  much  for  the  advancement  of 
the   Phytography  of  your  colony,  an  Honorary  Member. 

Nov ,  1883. 

"  '  My  principal  object  in  now  writing  to  you  is  to  say,  that  this  is — I  fear 
— the  last  letter  you  can  receive  from  me.  For  the  last  six  months  I  have 
been  quite  disabled  from  continuing  my  botanical  pursuits  and  correspond- 
ence, aud  I  now  see  that  I  can  never  hope  to  resume  them. 

"  *  I  first  began  collecting  and  forming  my  herbarium  in  1818  ;  my  first 
botanical  work  of  any  importance  was  my  *  Catalogue  des  plantes  des  Pyre- 
nees et  du  Bcis  Languedoc,'  published  in  1826  ;  but  I  had  already  written  on 
other  subjects,  and  from  1823  to  1828  I  published  more  on  classification,  on 
logic,  law,  etc.,  than  on  Botany.  From  1828  to  1833  I  endeavoured  to  keep 
up  Botany  as  well  as  Law,  whicli  I  had  adopted  as  a  profession.  In  1833  I 
finally  gave  up  Law,  and  devoted  myself  thenceforward  exclusively  to 
Botany.  In  1854  I  gave  over  my  Botanical  Library  and  Herbarium  to  Kew, 
and  for  the  next  28  years  went  daily  down  there  (from  London)  to  work, 
devoting  to  it  six  or  eight  hours  a  day,  five  or  six  days  in  the  week^  steadily 
and  continuously,  with  the  sole  interruption  of  an  occasional  Summer 
vacation  of  a  few  weeks.  After  however  the  tedious  winter  of  1882 — 1883 
I  broke  down  in  my  83rd  year,  and  have  done  nothing  since  May  last.  I 
had  however  finished  my  share  of  the  '  Genera  Plantarum^'  of  which  you 
will  have  received  the  latest  part  from  Sir  Joseph  Hooker;— and  I  have 
now  only,  in  taking  leave  of  you,  to  thank  you  for  all  the  pleasure  I  have 
had  in  my  correspondence  with  you. 

Ever  yours  sincerely 

(Signed)        George  Bentham.' 

"  The  Linnean  Society  of  New  South  Wales  will  doubtless  wish 
with  me,  that  the  sad  presentiments  of  this  great  man  will  not  be 
fulfilled,  and  that  from  his  unrivalled  experience  and  ardour  in 
the  promotion  of  Phytography  we  shall  benefit  until  he  reaches  a 
Chevreulian  age." 


554  president's  address. 

We  have  to  congratulate  the  Royal  Society  of  Queensland 
upon  its  inauguration.  This  Society  has  been  incorporated  with 
the  Philosophical  Society,  which  dates  its  existence  from  the  time 
when  Queensland  became  a  separate  province,  and  which,  as  the 
President,  the  Hon.  A.  C.  Gregory,  in  his  inaugural  address 
delivered  on  the  8th  of  the  present  month,  justly  remarks,  can 
point  to  the  Queensland  Museum  as  chiefly  the  result  of  its 
labours.  I  need  hardly  remind  you  that  it  is  to  the  Curator  of 
this  successful  and  popular  institution,  Mr.  Charles  W.  De  Yis, 
B.A.,  that  we  are  indebted  for  several  valuable  papers  read  before 
our  Society. 

During  the  year  an  instructive  and  valuable  work  of  reference, 
entitled  A  synopsis  of  the  Queensland  Flora,  has  been  published  in 
Brisbane  :  the  author  is  Mr.  Frederick  Manson  Bailey,  P.L.S., 
Colonial  Botanist.  A  statement  of  the  Fossil  Flora  of  Queens- 
land, by  the  Rev.  J.  G.  Tenison- Woods,  is  appended.  The 
arrangement  of  the  work  is  based  upon  that  of  Bentham  and 
Hooker's  Genera  Plantarum  and  Baron  von  Miiller's  Fragmenta 
Phytograi^hice  Australis. 

Mr.  R.  L.  Jack,  the  Government  Geologist  of  Queensland,  has 
just  completed  a  survey  of  the  Hodgkinson  Gold-Fields.  Below 
the  water  line  the  reefs  here  contain  a  complex  mixture  of 
copper  and  iron  pyrites,  zinc-blende,  galena,  &c.,  which  renders  the 
gold  difficult  of  extraction.  Consequently  some  of  the  companies 
(like  the  New  Reform  Mine  at  Lucknow,  and  the  Mitchell's  Creek 
IVIine  near  Bathurst),  send  their  stone  to  England  for  treatment. 
In  one  of  the  mines  he  has  discovered  the  Leindodetidron  nothum, 
which  species  occurs  in  the  Star,  Mount  Wyatt,  and  other  beds 
along  with  Upper  Devonian  or  Lower  Carboniferous  fossils,  but 
does  not  range  so  high  as  the  marine  beds  at  the  base  of  the  Coal 
Measures.  Also  at  the  Hodgkinson  are  coarse  conglomerates, 
with  pebbles  of  limestone,  containing  fossil  corals,  probably  of 
Upper  Silurian  species.  These  facts  are  very  interesting  as  being 
the  counterpart  of  what  obtains  in  New  South  Wales. 


president's  address.  555 

The  Government  Geologist  of  South  Australia,  Mr.  Y.  L. 
Brown,  who  was  formerly  a  Member  of  the  Geological  Survey  of 
New  South  Wales,  has  during  the  year  made  an  exploration  of  the 
eastern  portion  of  the  interior  of  that  colony,  and  his  published 
report  with  Map  and  Sections,  furnishes  some  interesting  and 
important  information.  The  objects  of  this  journey  were  to 
ascertain  the  extension  from  New  South  Wales  into  South 
Australia  of  the  gold-bearing  rocks  of  Mount  Brown,  and  the 
Cretaceous  formation  in  which  Artesian  and  other  water  has  been 
found.  The  extension  of  the  Cretaceous  and  Tertiary  area  into 
this  colony  from  New  South  Wales  and  Queensland,  was  proved 
along  a  distance  of  225  miles  of  boundary  of  the  former,  and  300 
miles  of  that  of  the  latter  colony. 

The  southerly  extension  of  this  great  Cretaceous  area  is  limited 
by  the  primary  rocks  which  continue  in  a  W'^esterly  direction  from 
the  Barrier  Range  in  New  South  Wales.  Artesian  Wells  have 
been  obtained  in  the  Cretaceous  formation,  and  the  numerous 
conical  mounds  which  have  been  formed  by  mud  springs  still 
flowing  as  well  as  by  others  now  extinct,  are  evidences  of 
natural  Artesian  Springs.  In  places  these  mounds  are  so 
numerous  as  to  give  the  country  the  appearance  of  a  deserted 
diggings.  The  Flinders  and  other  ranges  lying  to  the  south  of  the 
plain  and  sandhill  country,  act  as  a  dam  to  prevent  the  subter- 
ranean water  from  reaching  the  sea  ;  this  gives  rise  to  the  natural 
Artesian  Springs,  such  as  Mulligan,  Blanchewater,  etc.  The 
natural  Artesian  Wells  show  that  in  those  localities  water  will 
rise  to  the  surface  when  the  water-bearing  strata  has  been  pierced. 

One  of  the  most  marked  features  of  the  Cretaceous  country  are 
the  peculiar  sandhills.  As  to  the  origin  of  the  sandhills,  Mr. 
Brown  says — "  I  have  reason  to  believe  that  in  many  cases,  parti- 
cularly in  those  of  the  isolated  ridges  and  mounds  traversing  the 
stony  desert  at  long  distances  apart,  the  sand  has  been  derived 
from  an  underground  source  through  the  pressure  of  subterranean 
water.  There  was  in  all  probability  an  outlet  at  one  time 
connecting  the  old  Cretaceous  sea  which  occupied  the  centre  of 
Australia  with  the  ocean.  If  we  suppose  a  sudden  or  gradual  closing 


556  president's  address. 

up  of  this  outlet  to  have  taken  place,  through  the  subsidence  of  the 
land,  or  any  other  cause,  the  water  not  having  any  vent  to  escape 
by,  would  accumulate  in  the  porous  strata  until  under  sufficient 
pressure  to  force  its  way  to  the  surface  along  cracks  or  through 
holes  caused  by  such  pressure,  and  bring  with  it  the  sand,  in  a 
similar  manner  to  the  present  mud  and  sand  springs.  The  eruption 
of  sand  in  large  quantities  would  cause  a  subsidence  of  the  sur- 
rounding area,  whereof  there  is  evidence  in  the  valleys  of  the  Coopei 
and  Diamentina,  and  thus  have  created  the  great  lakes  into  which 
these  rivers  now  flow.  About  35  miles  south-east  of  Clifton  Hill 
Station,  on  the  Diamentina,  there  are  two  parallel  red  sand  ridges 
traversing  a  stony  plain  in  a  north-north-westerly  direction  ;  the 
plain  is  covered  with  a  pavement-like  coating  of  flinty  quartzite 
stones.  On  the  east  side  blocks  and  boulders  of  the  same  rock  are 
scattered  about,  amongst  which  are  numerous  low  circular  mounds 
of  white  clayey  sand,  the  centres  of  which  are  formed  of  blocks  of 
stones  piled  up,  which  are  encircled  by  other  smaller  blocks,  and 
these  by  scattered  stones,  the  whole  bearing  the  appearance  of 
having  been  erupted  by  springs  from  below.  At  numerous  other 
places  similar  appearances  present  themselves  ;  mounds  of  sand, 
gravel,  and  clay,  and  scattered  stones  occurring  on  the  surface  of 
many  of  the  plains  and  flat  areas,  the  presence  of  which  it  is 
difficult  to  account  for  in  any  other  way,  as  there  are  no  rocks  at 
a  higher  level  in  the  neighbourhood  from  which  the  sand  or  gravel 
could  have  been  washed." 

As  tending  to  support  Mr.  Brown's  theory  I  may  mention,  that 
great  quantities  of  sand  were  forced  up  with  the  water  in  the  tubes 
of  the  artesian  bore  at  Wee  Wattah  on  the  Killara  Run  in  the 
Darling  District. 

The  deep  bore  which  is  now  being  put  down  in  the  Cretaceous 
area  to  the  north  of  the  "  Government  Gums,"  by  Mr.  J.  W. 
Jones,  Head  of  the  Water  Conservation  Department,  S.A.,  has 
reached  to  a  depth  of  1,100  feet  in  Cretaceous  or  Jurassic  strata 
without  striking  water.  This  is  remarkable  and  shows  how  great 
is  the  depth  of  this  basin.  In  another  locality  good  water  has 
been  found  in  the  Miocene  Tertiary  formation. 


president's  address.  557 

In  the  early  part  of  the  year  the  Hon.  J.  L.  Parsons,  Minister 
for  the  Northern  Territory,  accompanied  by  Professor  Ralph  Tate? 
P.G.S.,  and  others,  paid  an  official  visit  to  the  Territory.  Mr. 
Parsons  considers  that  Port  Darwin  will  be  the  key  to  the  whole 
of  Northern  Australia.  It  contains  agricultural  lands  which? 
though  of  limited  extent,  are  suited  for  the  growth  of  sugarcane, 
maize,  rice,  and  other  tropical  plants.  A.nd  in  the  interior  are 
extensive  pasture-lands. 

Professor  Tate,  in  his  official  report,  points  out  that  the  rice 
plant  is  indigenous  to  the  Northern  Territory,  as  are  also  the 
Tamarind  and  one  other  useful  plant,  the  Tacca  inmiatijida,  from 
the  tubers  of  which  the  main  supply  of  Fiji  arrowroot  is  prepared. 
He  further  mentions  ''that  tropical  South  Australia  has  been 
truly  said  to  be  a  land  of  grasses  ;  the  number  of  known  species  is 
about  130;  and  of  these  he  collected  over  50,  between  the  Adelaide 
Piver  and  Pine  Creek.  But  only  some  four  or  five  are  con- 
stituents of  the  grass  plains  and  adjacent  hill  slopes.  S5ome  flats 
are  almost  exclusively  occupied  with  Anthistiria,  or  with 
AndTOi')ogon  triticeus,  or  with  another  congeneric  species,  whilst  not 
infrequently  the  three  are  found  in  company.  The  two  latter 
grasses  acquire  on  the  flats  a  height  of  from  6  to  8  feet,  and 
exceptionally  attain  to  1 4  feet ;  but  on  dry  hill  slopes  the  same 
species  dwindle  down  to  2  feet  or  less.  The  exuberant  growth  of 
grasses  in  the  plains  of  the  basin  of  the  Northern  Rivers  should 
be  capable  of  keeping  alive  large  herds  of  cattle. 

"  The  character  of  the  landscape,  as  far  as  it  depends  upon  trees, 
shrubs,  and  grasses,  presents  along  the  wdiole  route  very  little 
variation  ;  and  it  is  only  by  the  margins  of  some  of  the  sluggish 
water-courses  that  the  vegetation  assumes  a  tropical  aspect. 

"  In  the  jungles,  always  of  limited  area,  such  as  at  Famine  Bay, 
near  Palmerston,  at  Rum  Jungle,  at  the  Stapleton,  and  those  on 
the  margins  of  some  of  the  tributaries  of  the  McKinlay  River, 
there  abound  bamboos,  reaching  to  40  feet  and  60  feet  high, 
screw-pines,  umbrageous  fig  trees,  tall  eucalyptus,  and  the  paper- 
bark  melaleuca  or  tea-tree,  amongst  which  climb  certain  con- 
volvulace^e,   true  vines,  sarsaparilla  vine,    &c.     The  rest  of    the 


odS  president's  address. 

country  is  grassy  and  lightly  timbered.  The  flats,  the  soil  of 
which  is  a  stiflf  clay,  have  much  grass  and  little  timber ;  the 
slopes  of  the  hills  are  covered  with  a  pisolitic  iron,  quartz  sand, 
gravel ;  and  as  we  recede  from  the  swampy  ground  the  grass 
becomes  shorter  and  scantier,  and  the  trees  closer  and  smaller 

"  The  timber  is  of  a  scrubby  kind,  the  chief  constituents  being 
two  or  three  eucalypti  {K  clavigera,  dx.),  Iron  wood  {Erythro- 
2ohlceum  Laboucherii),  and  Grevillea-chrysodendron.  There  is  a 
general  absence  of  shrubs ;  and  the  grasses,  which  make  up  the 
rest  of  the  landscape,  if  we  except  the  grotesque  anthills,  which 
almost  equal  in  height  the  trees  amongst  which  they  occur,  are 
comprised  of  about  3  species." 

Regarding  the  metalliferous  country,  Professor  Tate  describes  it 
as  consisting  of  metamorphic  rocks,  in  the  midst  of  which  occur 
granite,  diorite,  and  porphyritic  felstones.  This  tract  comprises 
an  area  of  7,800  square  miles,  the  boundaries  of  which  are  defined 
by  the  desert  sandstone,  which  forms  bold  escarpments  about  600 
feet  high,  and  which  is  the  northern  edge  of  the  great  plateau  of 
Central  Australia.  Rich  gold-bearing  quartz  reefs  occur  in  the 
metamorphic  rocks,  and  the  alluvium  in  the  neighbouring  gullies 
has  been  found  to  be  rich  in  gold.  Ores  of  tin,  copper,  lead,  and 
iron  have  been  proved  in  several  localities.  Professor  Tate  is, 
however,  of  opinion,  that  these  mineral  riches  will  not  be 
profitably  worked  by  European  labour,  but  that  their  development 
must  be  left  to  the  cheaper  and  more  acclimatised  labour  of  the 
Asiatic  tribes  under  the  management  of  Europeans. 

In  New  Zealand  considerable  activity  has,  as  usual,  been  mani- 
fested in  matters  of  Science,  chiefly  by  Dr.  Hector,  C.M.G., 
F.R.S.  ;  Professor  Julius  von  Haast,  F.R.S.  ;  Professor  Hutton, 
F.G.S.  ;  Professor  G.  Ulrich,  F.G.S. ;  Professor  Parker  and 
others.  Their  labours  are  chiefly  made  known  in  the  Transactions 
of  the  New  Zealand  Institute^  The  New  Zealand  Science  JoiLrnal, 
and  in  the  publications  of  the  Colonial  Museum  and  Geological 
Survey  Department ;  one  of  the  latter,  which  may  be  mentioned 
as  of  general  interest,  is  a  third  edition  of  the  Handbook  of  New 


president's  address.  559 

Zealand,  by  Dr.  Hector,  Director  of  the  Geological  Survey.  In 
this  instructive  little  work  have  been  collated  from  the  records  of 
the  various  Government  departments  and  other  sources  of 
authority,  the  most  important  facts  relating  to  the  national 
history  and  progress  of  New  Zealand,  as  well  as  to  its  natural 
history  and  rich  resources. 

The  disastrous  earthquake  of  Ischia  in  July  last,  by  which  over 
4,000  human  lives  were  destroyed,  was  followed  by  the  still  more 
terrible  calamity  in  the  Straits  of  Sunda  in  August.  The  sudden 
volcanic  eruption  in  the  Island  of  Krakatoa  situated  in  these 
Straits,  produced  the  enormous  tidal  waves  which  overwhelmed 
a  large  area  of  the  Western  Coast  ot  Java,  totally  destroying  the 
town  of  Anjer  and  many  villages,  and  causing  the  loss  of  over 
70,000  human  beings.  This  eruption  may  truly  be  recorded,  not 
only  as  a  most  important  event  of  the  year,  but  also  as  one  of  the 
most  remarkable  volcanic  eruptions  on  record. 

The  following  is  a  vivid  description  of  it  by  Captain  W.  J. 
Watson,  of  the  British  ship  "  Charles  Bal,"  who  safely  navigated 
his  vessel  through  the  Straits  during  the  volcanic  outbursts. 

"  On  the  26th  August,  1883  at  noon  wind  W.S.  W.,  weather  fine, 
the  Island  of  Krakatoa  to  the  N.E.  of  us,  but  only  a  small  portion 
of  the  N".  E.  point,  close  to  the  water,  showing.  Rest  of  the  island 
covered  with  a  dense  black  cloud  ;  at  2.30  p.m.  noticed  some 
agitation  about  the  point  of  Krakatoa  ;  clouds  or  something  being 
propelled  from  the  N.E.  point  with  great  velocity;  at  3.30  we 
heard  above  us  and  about  the  island  a  strange  sound,  as  of  a 
mighty  crackling  fire,  or  the  discharge  of  heavy  artillery  at  second 
intervals  of  time;  at  4.15  p.m.,  Krakatoa  N.  |^  E.  10  miles  distant 
observed  a  repetition  of  that  noted  at  2.30,  only  much  more  furious 
and  alarming,  the  matter,  whatever  it  was,  being  propelled  with 
amazing  velocity  to  the  N.E.  To  us  it  looked  like  blinding  rain, 
and  had  the  appearance  of  a  furious  squall  of  ashen  hue.  At  once 
shortened  sail  to  topsails  and  foresail ;  at  5  the  roaring  noise 
continued  and  increasing,  wind  moderate  from  the  S.S.W.,  dark- 
ness spread  over  the  sky,  and  a  hail  of  pumice  stone  fell  on  us, 


560  president's  address. 

many  pieces  of  considerable  size  and  quite  warm  ;  had  to  cover  up 
the  skylights  to  save  the  glass,  while  feet  and  head  had  to  be  pro- 
tected with  boots  and  South-westers.  About  6  the  fall  of  larger 
stones  ceased  but  there  continued  a  steady  fall  of  a  smaller  kind,  most 
blinding  to  the  eyes,  and  covering  the  decks  to  three  or  four  inches 
very  speedily,  while  an  intense  blackness  covered  the  sky  and  land, 
and  sea  ;  sailed  on  our  course  until  we  got  what  we  thought  was 
a  sight  of  Fourth  Point  light,  then  brought  ship  to  tlie  wind,  S.  W., 
as  we  could  not  see  any  distance  and  we  knew  not  what  might  be 
in  the  Straits  the  night  being  a  fearful  one  ;  the  blinding  fall  of 
sand  and  stones,  the  intense  blackness  above  and  around  us,  broken 
only  by  the  incessant  glare  of  varied  kinds  of  lightning,  and  the 
contiimed  explosive  roars  of  Krakatoa,  made  our  situation  a  truly 
awful  one. 

"At  11  p.m,  having  stood  off  from  the  Java  shore,  wind  strong 
from  the  S.W.,  the  island,  W.N.W.  eleven  miles  distant,  became 
more  visible,  chains  of  fire  appearing  to  ascend  and  descend  between 
the  sky  and  it ;  while  on  the  S.W.  end  there  seemed  to  be  a  con- 
tinued roll  of  balls  of  white  fire  ;  the  wind  though  strong  was  hot 
and  choking,  sulphureous  with  a  smell  as  of  burning  cinders  ;  soma 
of  the  pieces  falling  on  us  being  like  iron  cinders,  and  the  lead 
from  a  bottom  of  thirty  fathoms  came  up  quite  warm. 

"  From  midnight  to  4  a.m.,  27th,  wind  strong  but  very  unsteady 
between  S.S.W.  and  W.S.W.  the  same  impenetrable  darkness 
continuing,  the  roaring  of  Krakatoa  less  continuous,  but  more 
explosive  in  sound,  the  sky  one  second  intense  blackness  the  next 
a  blaze  of  fire,  mast  heads  and  yard  arms  studded  with  corposants, 
and  a  peculiar  pinky  flame  coming  from  clouds  which  seemed  to 
touch  the  mast  heads  and  yard  arms  ;  at  6  a.m.  being  able  to 
make  out  the  Java  shore  set  sail,  passing  Fourth  Point  light 
house  at  8,  hoisted  our  signal  letters  but  got  no  answer.  8.30 
passed  Anjer,  name  still  hoisted,  close  enough  in  to  make  out  the 
houses  but  could  see  no  movement  of  any  kind  ;  in  fact  through 
the  whole  Straits  we  have  not  seen  a  single  moving  thing  of  any 
kind  on  sea  or  land  ;  at  10.15  a.m.  passed  the  Button  Island  to  J  to 
f  mile  ofi",  sea  like  glass  round  it,  weather  much  finer  looking  and 


president's  address.  561 

no  ash  or  cinders  falling  ;  wind  to  S.E,  light.  At  11.15  there  was 
a  fearful  explosion  in  the  direction  of  Krakatoa,  now  over  thirty 
miles  distant  ;  we  saw  a  wave  rush  right  on  to  the  Button  Island, 
apparently  sweeping  right  over  the  South  part  and  rising  halfway 
up  the  North  and  East  sides.  This  we  saw  repeated  twice,  but  the 
helmsman  says  he  saw  it  once  before  we  looked ;  the  same  wave 
seemed  also  to  run  on  to  the  Java  shore  ;  at  the  same  time  the  sky 
rapidly  covered  in,  the  wind  came  strong  from  the  S.W.  by  S.;  by 
11.30  we  were  enclosed  in  a  darkness  that  might  almost  be  felt, 
and  at  the  same  time  commenced  a  downpour  of  mud,  sand  and  I 
know  not  what,  ship  going  N.E.  by  N.  seven  knots  per  hour  under 
three  lower  topsails ;  put  out  the  side  light,  placed  two  men  on 
the  look-out  forward,  while  mate  and  second  mate  looked  out  on 
either  quarter,  and  one  man  employed  in  washing  the  mud  off 
binnacle  glass  ;  we  had  seen  two  vessels  to  the  North  and  N.W. 
of  us  before  the  sky  closed  in,  adding  much  to  the  anxiety  of  our 
position. 

"  At  noon  the  darkness  was  so  intense  that  we  had  .to  grope  our 
way  about  the  decks,  and  although  speaking  to  each  other  on  the 
poop,  yet  could  not  see  each  other ;  this  horrible  state  and  down- 
pour of  mud,  &c.,  &G.,  continued  until  1.30,  the  roarings  of  the 
volcano,  and  lightnings  being  something  fearful.  By  2  p.m.  we 
could  see  some  of  the  yards  aloft  and  the  fall  of  mud  ceased  ;  by  5 
p.m.  the  horizon  shewed  out  in  the  North  and  N.E.,  and  we  saw 
West  Island  bearing  E.  and  N.  just  visible  ;  up  to  midnight  the 
sky  hung  dark  and  heavy,  a  little  sand  falling  at  times,  the  roarings 
of  the  volcano  very  distinct,  although  in  sight  of  the  North  Watcher 
and  fully  sixty  five  or  seventy  miles  ofi*  it. 

"  Such  a  darkness  and  time  of  it  in  general  few  would  conceive, 
and  many,  I  dare  say,  would  disbelieve ;  the  ship  from  truck  to 
water  line,  is  as  if  cemented,  spars,  sails,  blocks,  ropes  in  a  terrible 
mess,  but  thank  God,  nobody  hurt  or  ship  damaged ;  on  the  other 
hand  how  fares  it  with  Anjer,  Merak,  and  other  villages  on  the 
Java  coast !" 

As  to  what  happened  on  the  land,  I  will  not  venture  to  add  to 
the  graphic  description  by  the  Kev.  J.  E.  Tenison- Woods,  F.G.S., 


562  president's  address. 

who  a  few  days  after  the  occurrence  was  fortunate  enough  to  visit 
and  make  a  personal  examination  of  the  scene  of  disaster,  which 
has  been  ah'eady  published  in  the  Sydney  Morning  Herald. 

This  and  other  similar  convulsions  probably  originate  from  the 
generation  of  molten  matter,  gases  and  steam  within  the  great  lines 
of  fracture  produced  by  the  contraction  of  the  earth's  mass  conse- 
quent uDon  its  cooling.  The  volcanic  cones  mark  the  position  of  weak 
points  of  resistance  upon  these  shrinkage  lines,  and  give  way  when 
the  expansive  forces  of  the  heated  matters  becomes  excessive.  It 
is  not  improbable  that  the  outbursts  may  be  accelerated  by  atmos- 
pheric changes  ;  for  instance  when  the  barometer  is  low,  indicating 
less  atmospheric  pressure  over  the  volcanic  region  ;  or  when  as 
Mr.  H.  C.  Russell,  our  Grovernment  Astronomer,  pointed  out  in 
a  letter  to  the  Sydney  Morning  Herald  of  3rd  September  last,  a 
sudden  increase  of  temperature  may  affect  the  earth  as  it  did  this 
year  about  the  period  of  the  meteor  shower  in  August ;  for  a 
sudden  change  in  surface  temperature  must  affect  the  strain  under 
which  the  earth's  surface  exists. 

The  numerous  earthquakes  and  remarkable  tidal  phenomena 
observed  throughout  Australasia  at  the  time  and  subsequent  to  the 
great  eruption  at  Sunda,  were  no  doubt  movements  sympathetic 
with  that  eruption  ;  for  fractures  due  to  shrinkage  or  expansion  in 
one  part  of  the  earth's  mass  must  affect  other  parts,  but  the  effects 
would  not  be  simultaneous,  as  some  of  the  different  rock  formations 
owing  to  their  structures  would  resist  the  strain  longer  than  others 
and  thus  earthquake  movements  might  be  felt  at  various  intervals 
in  different  localities. 

Evidences  of  fracture  in  the  rocks  are  frequent  in  almost  all  the 
geological  formations :  I  have  counted  over  30  dislocations  in  the 
Wianamatta  beds  which  are  exposed  in  the  railway  cuttings 
between  Sydney  and  Parramatta. 

Victoria,  especially  in  the  south-western  portion,  was  in  the 
later  Tertiary  times,  the  scene  of  great  volcanic  activity.  No 
less  than  79  extinct  points  of  eruption  occur  there.  Some  of 
these  which  I  have  examined  are  cone-shaped  hills,  with  crater 
basins,  and  are  built  up  of  basaltic  lava,  scoria,  and    ashes.     The 


president's  address.  563 

Anakies,  near  Geelong,  are  three  s'icli  crater  hills,  and  huge 
boulders  of  granite  are  mingled  with  the  volcanic  ashes  ;  one  of 
these  boulders  is  from  10  to  15  feet  in  diameter.  Near  the  crater 
of  another  volcano  I  have  seen  fragments  of  Miocene  limestone, 
containing  fossil  shells,  enclosed  in  tlxe  lava,  showing  that  the 
latter  has  come  up  through  the  Miocene  beds  ;  and  under  the 
basalt  plains  in  the  same  locality  occur  horizontally  stratified  beds 
of  volcanic  ash,  such  as  we  may  imagine  have  lately  been 
deposited  in  the  Straits  of  Sunda. 

In  New  South  Wales  volcanic  rocks  occur,  more  or  less,  on 
almost  every  part  of  the  Great  Dividing  Range,  both  along  its 
summit  and  upon  its  eastern"  and  western  slopes ;  but  with  the 
exception  of  Mount  Table  Top,  near  Kiandra,  the  Canoblas,  near 
Orange,  and  perhaps  one  or  two  conical  hills  in  New  England,  no 
true  crater-hills  have  been  observed.  The  basaltic  lava,  in  nearly 
all  instances,  has  welled  up  through  numerous  fissure-vents  and 
overflowed  from  them. 

I  have  before  remarked  that  the  researches  of  this  Society  are 
not  only  of  direct  scientific  value,  but  will  also  aid  in  the  develop, 
ment  of  the  economic  resources  of  the  colony,  or  rather,  as  I  should 
say,  of  Australasia  ;  for  though  our  home  is  in  New  South  Wales, 
and  therefore  New  South  Wales  will  be  more  immediately 
benefited,  yet  the  influence  of  the  Society  must  reach  beyond  the 
territorial  lines  which  politically  divide  the  great  and  naturally 
united  fleld  every  part  of  which  must  claim  our  attention.  The 
site  of  our  homestead,  being  a  very  central  one,  has  been  well 
selected.  Several  widely  separated  portions  of  Australasia 
possess  rich  local  resources  capable  of  supporting  populous  com. 
munities,  but  in  no  portion  do  there  occur  in  such  abundance  and 
variety  the  natural  elements  for  the  building  up  of  a  prosperous 
nation,  as  in  this  central  portion  of  Eastern  Australia. 

Here  within  a  comparatively  small  area  are  included  the 
principal  physical  features  of  the  Continent ;  and  when  we  men- 
tion that  the  land  features  are  very  varied,  a  corresponding  variety 
in  the  climate,  the  geology,  and  the  fauna  and  flora  may  be 
inferred.  And  when  we  also  enter  the  ocean  upon  our  list,  and 
Al3 


564:  president's  address. 

consider  the  remarkable  contour  of  its  bed,  and  the  great  depths 
which  the  soundings  have  shown  to  exist  at  no  great  distance  from 
our  shores,  we  may  also  infer  what  marvellous  variety  there 
must  be  in  our  marine  fauna  and  flora. 

In  contemplating  this  rich  field,  the  interest  of  the  naturalist 
increases  almost  to  excitement  when  he  remembers  that  both  upon 
the  land  and  in  the  ocean  exist  very  ancient  forms  of  life  linking 
the  present  with  the  distant  past;  for  he  here  feels  himself  to  be  in 
a  region  where  geological  changes  have  not  been  so  complete 
as  in  nlany  other  portions  of  the  globe,  and  that  therefore  the  law 
which  has  regulated  the  gradual  out-growth  of  the  present  from 
the  past  may  be  studied  here  perhaps  with  greater  advantage  than 
elsewhere. 

My  predecessors  in  the  Presidential  office  to  which  you  have 
done  me  the  honor  of  election,  have  addressed  you  upon  several 
of  tlje  subjects  just  alluded  to  ;  and  as  they  have  referred  to  the 
practical  issue  attending  the  work  of  this  Society  in  connection 
with  certain  industries,  I  beg  that  I  may  be  permitted  to  add  a 
few  observations  bearing  more  particularly  upon  a  subject  of  great 
scientific  and  national  interest,  I  mean  Economic  Geology. 

As  I  shall  have  to  make  reference  to  the  difi'erent  geological 
formations,  I  will  here  mention  them  in  their  relative  order  of  super- 
position. 

Kecent 

Pleistocene 
Pliocene 
Miocene 
Eocene 
Cretaceous 

Clarence  series  (Jurassic '?) 
Wianamatta  series 
Hawkesbury  series 
Upper  Coal  Measures  (Permian)  ? 
Lower  Coal  Measures  (Carboniferous) 
Devonian 
Silurian 
Basalt,  Diorite,  Serpentine,  Porphyry  and  Granite. 


I  (Triassic  ? 


president's  address.  565 

The  five  last  named  rocks,  though  placed  as  the  lowest  in 
position,  and  often  found  as  such,  are  all  younger  than  the  lowest 
of  the  above-mentioned  sedimentary  rocks.  At  all  events  we  have 
as  yet  no  evidence  to  the  contrary ;  for  wherever  the  boundaries 
of  the  Silurian  and  granites  are  well  indicated,  the  latter  are 
observed  to  be  metamorphosed  beds  of  the  former  ;  and  where  the 
metamorphism  has  been  so  great  as  to  have  produced  semi-fluid 
conditions,  the  granites  are  seen  as  intrusive  masses  penetrating 
the  Silurian  rocks.  T  have  seen  in  New  England  instances  of 
metamorphic  granites  and  porphyries  in  which  the  lines  of  strati- 
fication of  the  original  sedimentary  formation  have  not  been 
obliterated ;  and  also,  in  the  same  locality,  splendid  sections 
shewing  intrusive  dykes  and  masses  of  these  rocks.  The  diorites 
in  like  manner  have  penetrated  the  Carboniferous  rocks  ;  and 
some  of  the  basalts  have  in  places  burst  through  and  overflowed 
all  the  formations  older  than  the  Pleistocene. 

The  connection  of  the  older  igneous  rocks  with  the  sedimentary 
formations  which  have  been  affected  by  them  has  had  an  important 
influence  upon  the  occurrence  of  some  of  our  economic  minerals. 
Thus  some  of  the  richest  deposits  occur  only  where  the  Silurian 
and  Devonian  formations  have  been  disturbed  by  intrusions  of 
diorite ;  and  the  bismuth  lodes,  also  many  of  the  tin  lodes,  traverse 
the  granite  near  its  junction  with  the  slates  ;  I  shall  again  make 
reference  to  these  further  on. 

Coal. 
New  South  Wales  is  rich  in  coal,  shale,  gold,  tin,  copper,  iron 
and  antimony,  but  of  these  coal,  the  value  of  the  annual  produc- 
tions of  which  now  exceeds  that  of  any  of  the  others,  may  justly 
be  considered  of  the  greatest  national  importance,  and  in  its 
development  lies  the  establishment  and  success  of  various  com- 
mercial industries.  Fortunately  our  coal  deposits  are  very 
extensive  and  are  available  in  widely  separated  localities  both 
upon  the  seaboard  and  inland.  Sydney  is  situated  almost  in  the 
centre  of  a  great  coal  basin,  the  eastern  half  of  which  long  ago 
sunk  down  and  disappeared  beneath  the  ocean,  the  present  coast 
marking  the  line  of  fault.     But  we  can  well  excuse  this  fault,  for 


566  president's  address. 

it  has  allowed  the  great  water-way  of  the  world  access  to  the  rich 
mineral  portion  of  this  territory  ;  and  the  coal  in  the  remaining 
half  of  the  broken  basin  will  more  than  suffice  for  the  needs  of 
many  generations. 

The  Northern,  Western,  and  Southern  Coal  Fields  have 
been  so  named  from  their  position  in  reference  to  Sydney.  The 
Northern  Coal  Field  includes  the  seams  which  are  worked  in 
the  Newcastle,  Maitland,  and  Greta  districts.  In  the  two  latter 
districts  the  coal  seams  are  in  Glossopteris  beds,  the  Lower  Coal 
Measures,  which  rest  upon  and  are  overlaid  by  strata  containing 
marine  fauna  of  Carboniferous  age.  In  the  Newcastle  district  the 
seams  of  coal  occur  in  a  higher  series  of  plant-bearing  strata,  about 
500  ft.  thick  and  quite  devoid  of  marine  fossils.  This  series  is 
called  the  Upper  Coal  Measures,  and  has  been  provisionally 
referred  to  the  Permian  period.  It  includes  upwards  of  six  seams 
of  coal,  several  of  which  have  been  worked ;  but  the  lowest  of  them 
is  the  principal  seam  which  is  from  8  to  15  ft.  thick,  and  it  is  from 
this  that  fully  one-half  of  the  coal  raised  in  the  colony  is  obtained. 
The  coal  is  of  a  bright  bituminous  character,  quick-lighting  and 
suitable  for  steam,  gas,  smelting,  and  household  purposes.  The 
same '  Coal  Measures  extend  for  a  considerable  distance  in  a 
southerly  direction,  and  some  of  the  seams  not  only  crop  out  at  the 
surface'  on  the  shores  of  Lake  Macquarie,  but  also  inland  they 
have  been  proved  at  various  depths  by  Diamond  rock-drill  borings. 

The  Western  Coal  Field  may  be  said  to  include  the  country 
stretching  from  the  eastern  to  the  western  margin  of  the  Bine 
Mountains,  The  formations  of  this  elevated  tract  consist  of  the 
Coal  Measures  overlaid  originally  by  horizontal  beds,  about  1000ft. 
thick,  of  Hawkesbury  sandstone.  Denudation  has  here  and  there 
cut  right  through  this  great  sandstone  formation,  and  in  places 
into  and  through  the  underlying  Coal  Measures.  In  the  sides  of 
some  of  the  deep  valleys  thus  formed  coal  seams  crop  out  at 
different  levels.  The  principal  Colliery  Companies  have  been 
working  the  lowest  seam  at  Lithgow  where  it  is  10ft.  thick,  and 
near  Wallerawang  where  it  is  of  less  thickness  ;  but  recently  one 
of  the  upper  seams   containing  coal  of  excellent  quality  has  been 


president's  address  567 

opened  at  the  Katoomba  Colliery,  and  another  Colliery  near 
Mount  Victoria  is  soon  to  commence  work.  Mining  enterprise 
is  also  being  directed  to  the  coal  seams  in  the  vicinity  of  the  new 
Railway  line  near  Caper  tee.  The  Western  coal  is  of  a  splinty 
character  and  contains  less  volatile  hjdro-carbons  and  a  higher 
percentage  of  ash  than  that  of  Newcastle  ;  nevertheless  it  is  a 
good  coal  for  housework,  steam  and  gas  purposes,  and  will  be 
especially  valuable  for  iron  aiid  copper  smelting  and  other  in- 
dustries which  are  destined  to  be  largely  developed  in  this  district. 

Petroleum  oil  cannel  coal  or  "  Kerosene  Shale"  has  been  found 
in  seams  of  irregular  extent  and  thickness  in  various  parts  of  the 
Western  Coal  Field,  at  Hartley  Yale,  Katoomba,  Bathgate, 
Capertee  etc.,  as  well  as  at  Greta  and  Colley  Creek  in  the  Northern, 
and  at  Wollongong  and  Berrima  in  the  Southern  Coal  Field.  At 
Hartley  Yale  where  it  has  been  extensively  mined  for  some  years, 
the  seam  is  from  3  to  5  feet  thick,  and  occurs  in  the  Coal  Measures 
at  about  60ft.  above  their  base,  or  40  ft.  above  the  main  coal 
seam.  This  so-called  Kerosene  shale  yields  up  to  180  gallons 
of  crude  oil,  or  18,000  cubic  feet  of  gas  per  ton  with  an 
illuminating  power  equal  to  40  candles.  For  mixing  with  coal 
in  order  to  increase  the  illuminating  power  of  ordinary  coal  gas,  this 
cannel  coal  is  fast  becoming  largely  employed  here  and  in  other 
countries.  A  seam  18  inches  to  2  ft.  thick  and  similar  in  quality  to 
that  of  Hartley  Yale,  is  worked  at  Joaclja  Creek,  near  Berrima ;  and 
at  America  Creek,  near  Wollongong,  another  seam  for  some  time 
afforded  material  for  the  manufacture  of  kerosene  oil,  when  the 
cannel  coal  suddenly  changed  into  bituminous  coal. 

In  the  Southern  Coal  Field  several  seams  of  coal  are  known  j 
one  of  them,  near  Jamberoo,  is  over  25ft.  thick  ;  but  hitherto 
they  have  only  been  worked  where  they  crop  out  on  the  side  of 
the  coast  range  facing  the  ocean  from  Coal  Cliff  to  Mount 
Kembla.  The  uppermost  seam  is  the  principal  one,  and  is  from 
4  to  8  ft.  thick.  The  coal  is  bituminous,  free  burning,  and  is 
largely  used  for  steam  and  other  purposes.  At  Berrima  and 
Bundanoon,  on  the  Great  Southern  Railway,  coal  is  now  being 
raised    from    a   seam     which    occurs    at    the    top     of    the    Coal 


568  president's  address. 

Measures;  the  Hawkesbury  formation  here  rests  directly  upon 
it.  Near  Mittagong  and  Ja'mberoo  the  bituminous  coal  seams 
have  in  places  been  changed  into  anthracite,  owing  to  the  intrusion 
of  igneous  rocks  which,  took  place  after  the  deposition  of  the 
Wianamatta  series,  for  at  Mittagong  masses  of  trachyte  have 
upheaved  and  penetrated  not  only  the  Coal  Measures,  but  also  the 
Hawkesbury  and  Wianamatta  series.  Some  good  sections  showing 
intrusive  dykes  of  trachyte  may  be  seen  in  the  railway  cuttings 
near  Mittagong. 

From  the  Hunter  River  District  the  Coal  Measures  have  been 
traced  westerly  to  Dubbo ;  thence  they  extend  in  a  north-easterly 
direction,  as  a  belt  about  45  miles  wide,  as  far  as  the  Queensland 
border.  A  large  area  of  coal  bearing  strata  occurs  in  the  Clarence 
and  Richmond  District,  but  the  formation  is  newer  than  that  of 
the  above-mentioned  Coal  fields,  and  as  yet  no  workable  coal 
seams  have  been  found  in  it.  Some  time  ago  Mr.  Geological 
Surveyor,  E.  F.  Pittman,  made  a  report  upon  some  of  the  coal 
seams  and  gold  bearing  portions  of  this  district';  and  at  our  last 
monthly  meeting.  Professor  Stephens  read  an  instructive  paper, 
giving  a  further  description  of  the  geology  and  physical  features  of 
the  Clarence  coal  basin,  and  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  great 
Dividing  Range. 

Very  full  information  regarding  the  composition  of  the  New 
South  Wales  Coals,  with  analyses,  &c.,  is  given  in  a  report  by  Mr. 
W.  A.  Dixon,  F.C.S.,  F.I.C,  and  also  in  the  Minerals  of  New 
South  Wales,  by  Professor  Liversidge,  F.R.S.,  published  in  the 
Mineral  Products  of  New  South  Wales,  by  the  Department  of 
Mines.  In  the  Annual  Reports  of  this  Department  are  published 
the  reports  of  the  Examiner  of  Coal  Fields,  Mr.  John  Mackenzie, 
F.G.S.,  giving  statistics  of  the  mines,  together  with  diagrammatic 
sections  of  the  Coal  Measures  and  of  the  seams  worked. 

The  Coal  measures  are  estimated  to  occupy  an  area  of  about 
23,950  square  miles. 

There  is  reason  to  believe  that  the  coal  seams  which  are  now 
worked  in  the  Northern,  Western,  and  Southern  Coal  Fields, 
underlie   within   a  workable    depth    an    area   of  3,328  square 


president's  address.  569 

miles :  this  being  so,  it  will  be  interesting  to  know  that  they 
contain,  after  deducting  one  half  of  the  total  contents  of 
of  the  seams  for  waste,  etc:,  about  14,370,000,000  tons  of  coal, 
which,  at  the  present  annual  rate  of  production  of  about  2*500,000 
tons,  woald  last  for  over  5,000  years.  This  estimate  does  not 
include  the  other  good  seams  within  the  same  area  which  are  not 
at  present  worked.  And  when  we  consider  that  in  the  remaining 
area  of  the  Coal  Measures  coal  seams  are  known  to  occur,  but 
have  not  yet  been  proved,  we  may  rest  assured  of  the  stability 
of  this  great  source  of  national  wealth. 

Gold. 

Though  coal  has  now  taken,  and  is  destined  to  hold,  the 
foremost  place  of  importance  in  the  mineral  productions  of  New 
South  Wales,  yet  it  is  to  the  indigenous  gold  that  the  colony  is 
indebted  for  the  real  commencement  of  its'  present  tide  of  pros- 
perity. The  sudden  increase  in  population  consequent  upon  the 
earlier  gold  discoveries,  gave  a  great  impetus  to  the  growth  of 
the  industries  of  the  colony,  and  led  to  the  developement  of  other 
great  mineral  resources. 

During  the  last  three  or  four  years  the  value  of  the  produc- 
tion of  gold  has  even  fallen  below  that  of  tin,  but  this  is  due  to 
the  heavy  yield  from  the  easily  worked  shallow  stanniferous 
deposits  which  must  soon  diminish.  There  is  little  doubt  but 
that  gold  will  recover  and  maintain  the  second  place  in  the 
scale  of  the  valae  of  our  mineral  products.  From  a  careful 
consideration  of  the  auriferous  localities  and  what  they  have 
yielded,  I  do  not  think  that  the  yield  is  ever  likely  again  to  fall 
much,  if  at  all,  below  its  present  limits  ;  for  there  are  now  no 
exceptionally  rich  alluvial  deposits  being  worked,  and  the  yield 
from  quartz  mining  is  steadily  increasing  and  will  probably 
continue  to  do  so.  So  that  without  reckoning  upon  fresh  alluvial 
discoveries,  which  from  time  to  time  are  sure  to  be  made  in  the 
large  scope  of  country  that  has  yet  to  be  prospected,  we  may 
regard  the  present  rate  of  production  as  permanent. 

The  occurrence  of  gold  was  recorded  by  Mr.  Surveyor 
McBrian  in  1823,  by  Count  Strzelecki  in  1839,  and  by  the  Rev. 


570  president's  address. 

W.  B.  Clarke  in  1811 ;  but  in  1851  the  prospecting  operations 
of  Hargraves  drew  public  attention  to  it,  and  since  then,  up  to 
the  1st  of  January,  1883,  according  to  the  Annual  Eeport  for 
1882  bj  Mr.  Harrie  Wood,  Under  Secretary  for  Mines,  gold  to 
the  value  of  £34,870,378  has  been  raised  ;  the  value  of  the  pro- 
duction for  1882  being  £526,521. 

The  yield  of  gold  for  1852  was  greater  than  that  of  any  subse- 
quent year :  this  was  due  to  the  fact  that  the  miners  naturally 
first  gave  their  attention  to  the  shallow  deposits  in  the  beds  and 
in  the  banks  of  the  creeks ;  thence  the  gold  was  gradually  traced 
into  deeper  ground  and  consequently  became  more  difficult  of 
extraction.  In  some  places  it  was  found  in  the  surface  soil  upon 
the  sides  of  hills,  and  in  working  this  ''  surfacing,"  as  it  is 
called,  the  gold  was  followed  up  either  to  the  outcrop  of  a  quartz 
reef  whence  it  was  originally  derived,  or  into  a  very  waterworn 
gravelly  drift.  This  drift,  now  situated  upon  the  side  of  the 
valley  and  several  hundreds  of  feet  above  the  level  of  the  present 
watercourse,  marks  the  depth  of  the  valley  at  the  time  of  the 
deposition  of  the  drift.  And  just  as  we  should  expect,  seeing 
that  the  valley  has  been  gradually  deepened  by  the  erosive 
action  of  rain  water  coursing  down  it  during  many  ages,  we  find 
at  various  levels  similar  old  watercourse  gravels,  some  of  which 
have  been  protected  by  coverings  of  basalt  rock  which  in  a 
molten  state  issued  from  some  volcanic  vent,  and,  pouring  down 
into  the  valley,  buried  in  its  progress  the  then  bed  of  the 
watercourse. 

In  cases  where  the  valley  had  been  paitlj'  filled  with  basalt 
the  rain  water  flowing  over  it  found  it  an  easier  matter  to  cut 
a,  new  drainage  channel  along  the  edge  of  the  basalt  than 
through  it ;  and  so  the  new  channel  has  often  a  very  different 
direction  to  the  old  one.  Intelligent  prospectors  becoming 
acquainted  with  these  facts  take  these  narrow  tracts  of  basalt 
as  their  guide  in  selecting  sites  for  shafts  for  prospecting  the 
old  water-course,  or  "  deep  lead."  Many  of  the  **  deep  leads"  have 
proved  richer  than  the  more  recent  riverbeds,  because  they  contain 
the  heavy  gold  that  had  been  as  it  were  naturally  ground-sluiced 


president's  address.  571 

out  of  the  enormous  amount  of  rock  that  had  been  broken  up  and 
removed  during  the  erosion  of  the  broader  part  of  the  valley, 
whereas  the  rich  contents  of  the  lead  having  been  protected  from 
redistribution  into  the  new  and  perhaps  deeper  channel,  the 
latter  contains  only  the  quantity  of  gold  derived  from  the  dis- 
integration of  the  smaller  bulk  of  rock  represented  by  the 
narrow  dimensions  of  the  bottom  of  the  valley.  This  subaerial 
denudation  has  continued  from  the  early  Tertiary  period  to  the 
present  day,  and  we  find  here  and  there  upon  the  furrowed 
slopes  of  the  Great  Dividing  Eange  remnants  of  the  fluviatile 
deposits  which  accumulated  at  various  times  during  that  long 
period.  Besides  the  metallic  substances  derived  from  the  de- 
nuded formations,  these  accumulations,  consisting  of  pebbles, 
sand,  mud  and  clay,  contain  vestiges  of  the  animal  and  vegetable 
forms  which  successively  lived  upon  this  ancient  land,  and  from 
which  the  existing  fauna  and  flora  have  been  developed.  Thus  in 
the  Pleistocene  deposits  we  have  bones  of  some  of  the  existing 
species  of  animals  mingled  with  those  of  the  extinct  gigantic 
diprotodon,  macropus,  megalania,  etc.,  for  the  description  of 
which  we  are  chiefly  indebted  to  Sir  Eichard  Owen.  In  the 
Pliocene  occur  fossil  fruits,  described  by  Baron  Von  Mueller,  and 
leaves  and  stems  of  trees,  with  a  fresh  water  unio,  which  has  been 
described  by  Mr.  R.  Etheridge,  junr.  F.G.S.  ;  and  in  the  lower 
Miocene  or  Eocene,  we  have  abundance  of  fossil  leaves,  some  of 
which  have  lately  been  examined  by  Baron  von  Ettingshausen, 
who  has  given  the  following  interesting  particulars  in  the 
Geological  Magazine  for  April  1883  :  — 

The  fossil  plants  collected  by  Mr.  J.  K.  Hume  from  Dalton, 
and  sent  by  Mr.  C.  S.  Wilkinson,  Government  Geologist  of  New 
South  Wales,  to  Mr,  Robert  Etheridge,  junior,  at  the  British 
Museum,  "belong  to  27  species,  21  genera,  and  17  families.  The 
species  I  have  under  examination  are  all  new  ;  of  the  genera  only 
two  {Ficonium  and  Pomader rites)  are  new,  whilst  the  others  occur 
both  in  the  Tertiary  formation  of  Europe  (19),  North  America 
and  North  Asia  (13),  Java  (4),  Sumatra  (3),  and  Borneo  (3). 
Only   six   of  the   genera   are    contained   in   the   living    flora   of 


572  president's  address. 

Australia,  and  of  these  only  two  belong  to  the  numerous  genera 

which  characterise  this  flora I  find  that  the  Tertiary 

flora  of  Australia  is  far  more  nearly  allied  to  the  Tertiary  floras  of 
other  Continents  than  to  the  living  flora  of  Australia.  It  seems, 
therefore,  that  the  numerous  forms  which  characterise  the  latter 
have  been  developed  out  of  Pliocene  or  Post  Tertiary  forms  of 
jDlants  till  now  unknown  to  us.  The  recent  flora  of  Australia 
contains  also  genera  which  characterise  other  floras,  but  not  the 
Australian.  It  was  till  now  enigmatical  how  they  came  to  form 
part  of  this  recent  flora,  as  the  species  are  endemic  and  have  not 
wandered ;  for  instance,  the  species  of  the  European  and  North 
American  genus  Fagus,  of  the  .  Asiatic  genera  Taherncemontana 
and  Elceocarpus,  &c.  As  some  of  them  now  have  been  discovered 
in  the  Australian  Tertiary,  for  instance  the  above-named,  there  is 
no  doubt  they  passed  over  into  the  living  flora  from  the  Tertiary." 
To  return  to  the  auriferous  drifts.  Water- worn  or  "  alluvial" 
gold  occurs  in  formations  older  than  the  Tertiary.  Some  of  the 
gold-bearing  gravels  of  the  Mount  Brown  diggings  are  believed 
to  be  of  Cretaceous  age.  In  the  Gulgong  district  the  Coal 
Measures  conglomerates,  where  they  rest  upon  the  upturned 
beds  of  Silurian  schists  containing  quartz  reefs,  have  been 
mined  for  gold,  and  nuggets  up  to  5ozs.  in  weight  were  obtained. 
This  is  the  oldest  formation  in  which  waterworn  gold  has  yet 
been  found.  Of  course  the  gold  bearing  drifts  vary  considerably 
in  richness  according  to  the  nature  of  the  auriferous  formations 
from  which  they  have  been  derived,  and  the  amount  of  concen- 
tration or  natural  ground-sluicing  to  which  the  disintegrated 
rocks  have  been  subjected.  The  deep  leads  at  the  Parkes, 
Porbes,  Temora  and  Gulgong  diggings  were  very  rich  in  places  ; 
thus  in  a  claim  near  Gulgong  as  much  as  3  5  ozs.  of  gold  have 
been  washed  from  one  tin-dishful  of  dirt )  and  from  another 
claitn  on  the  same  lead,  seven  miners  in  three  years  obtained, 
clear  of  all  expenses,  gold  to  value  of  £28,000.  But,  as  you 
might  expect,  it  is  only  near  the  reefs  or  sources  of  the  gold  that  the 
leads  have  been  so  rich.  This  fact  has  often  led  to  the  discovery 
v'>f  the  original  matrices  of  the  gold,  and  these  have  generally 


president's  address.  573 

proved  to  be  quartz  reefs  traversing  Silurian,  Devonian  and 
Carboniferous  strata,  as  well  as  diorite,  porphyry,  serpentine 
and  granite. 

At  Young,  Araluen,  and  in  some  other  gold  fields,  the 
alluvial  gold  has  evidently  been  derived  not  only  from  the  quartz 
reefs  in  the  granite,  but  also  from  the  granite  itself;  these 
granites  are  always  hornblendic. 

Thus  the  precious  metal  occurs  in  different  formations,  and  it 
ia  often  associated  with  one  or  more  of  the  following  minerals- 
iron  pyrites,  copper  pyrites,  galena,  mispickel,  stibnite,  blende, 
native  arsenic,  native  bismuth,  molybdenite,  silver  ores, 
limonite,  calcite,  chlorite,  muscovite,  etc.  Some  of  these  show 
that  gold  has  been  in  solution  in  the  meteoric  waters  at 
various  times.  I  have  in  my  possession  some  stalactites 
of  limonite  showing  layers  of  gold  in  the  concentric  rings  of  the 
iron  ore.  The  abundance  of  the  above-mentioned  minerals, 
especially  the  sulphides,  in  the  quartz  reefs  renders  the  gold 
somewhat  difficult  of  extraction,  and  it  is  believed  that  when 
less  costly  methods  of  treatment  than  those  at  present  in  use 
are  introduced,  many  reefs  now  lying  idle  will  be  profitably 
worked.  The  deepest  quartz  mine  in  New  South  Wales  is  the 
Great  Victoria  Mine  at  Adelong  :  the  reef  traverses  metamorphic 
granite  and  has  been  followed  almost  vertically  to  a  depth  of  1050 
feet.  Hydraulic  sluicing  appliances  have  been  introduced 
to  work  the  extensive  Tertiary  drifts  in  the  Kiandra  mountains. 
There  are  so  many  interesting  features  connected  with  the 
occurrence  of  gold  that  to"  describe  them  would  require  more 
space  than  I  now  have  at  my  disposal.  I  must,  therefore,  pass 
on  to  a  brief  notice  of  our  other  mineral  resources. 

Tin. 

Tin  mining  is  one  of  the  established  industries  of  New  South 
Wales.  You  may  form  an  idea  of  its  importance  when  I  tell 
you  that  the  value  of  the  annual  production  for  1882  amounted 
to  £842,131.  The  principal  tin  mines  are  in  the  Vegetable 
Creek  and  Inverell  *  districts  on  the  western  slopes  of  New 
England,  but  the  ore  has  also  been  found  on  the   eastern  slopes 


574  president's  address. 

to  the  northward  of  Glen  Innes  and  Tenterfield.  It  also  occurs 
in  the  Tumut  and  Adelong  and  Jingellic  districts,  as  well  as  at 
Mount  Brown  and  in  other  parts  of  the  colony.  But  nearly  all 
the  ore  hitherto  raised  has  come  from  the  New  England  mines. 
This  tin-field  is  so  extensive  that  it  will  probably  become  one  of 
the  most  important  in  the  world.  The  stream  tin  ore  is 
obtained  from  alluvial  deposits  which  are  of  similar  origin  and 
belong  to  the  same  Recent  and  Tertiary  periods  as  the  gold 
drifts  which  I  have  already  described ;  and  in  the  tin-bearing 
deep  leads,  which  are  from  50  to  200  feet  deep,  we  also  find 
numerous  impressions  of  fossil  leaves  beautifully  preserved, 
together  with  casts  of  unio  shells  and  fossil  insects,  specimens 
of  the  latter,  which  are  the  second  discovered  in  the  colony, 
were  exhibited  at  our  August  meeting. 

The  shallow  deposits  which  have  been  so  productive,  are  rapidly 
becoming  exhausted ;  yet  they  still  give  employment  to  several 
thousands  of  miners  who  are  principally  Chinese. 

The  deep  leads  are  being  traced  into  deep  and  wet  ground,  so 
that  costly  machinery  is  necessary  for  the  proper  working  of  them. 

With  but  little  exception,  the  ore  which  has  been  sent  to 
market  has  been  stream  tin ;  but  lately  considerable  attention 
has  been  paid  to  the  development  of  some  of  the  numerous  lodes 
which  have  been  discovered. 

The  lodes  are  very  variable  in  their  modes  of  occurrence  : 
sometimes  the  ore  is  found  as  thin  veins  of  pure  cassiterite ;  at 
others  it  occurs  in  quartz  reefs,  or  as  irregular  masses  in  felspar, 
or  in  separate  coarse  grains  disseminated  through  porphyritic 
granite.  Some  of  the  so-called  lodes  exhibit  all  these  various 
features.  The  principal  formations  traversed  by  the  tin  lodes, 
are  granite,  porphyry,  and  metamorphic  slates,  sandstones  and 
conglomerates  probably  of  Siluro-Devonian  age.  The  minerals 
associated  with  the  tin  ore  are,  pyrites,  mispickel,  blende,  wolfram, 
tourmaline,  fluor  spar,  bismuth,  chlorite,  etc.  My  colleague, 
Mr.  T.  W.  Edgeworth  David,  B.A.,  F.G-.S.,  is  now  engaged 
upon  a  Geological  Survey  of  this  tin  field,  and  I  anticipate  that 
the  result  of  his  labours  will  prove  of  great  economic  and 
scientific  value. 


president's  address.  575 

Copper. 

The  Copper  Mining  industry  of  New  South  Wales  has  already 
attained  an  important  position.  The  value  of  the  Copper 
produced  in  1882  was  £324,727,  bringing  the  total  production 
up  to  £3,538,285. 

The  largest  mine  in  the  Colony  is  the  Great  Cobar,  which  is 
distant  497  miles  west  of  Sydney.  The  lode  traverses  Silurian 
schists,  and  is  variable  in  width  up  to  70  feet  or  more.  It  has 
been  worked  to  a  depth  of  324  feet.  The  ores  consist  of  yellow 
and  gray  sulphides,  red  oxide,  and  green  and  blue  carbonates, 
with  some  native  copper.  Some  very  fine  specimens  of  fibrous 
malachite  have  been  obtained.  The  out-put  from  the  mine  for 
1882  produced  1805  tons  of  fine  copper  valued  at  £126,350. 

In  the  same  district,  but  nearer  to  the  Great  Western 
Railway,  is  the  Nymagee  Copper  mine,  where  a  rich  lode  from 
2  to  30  feet  wide  also  occurs  in  the  Silurian  formation.  The 
returns  from  the  mine  for  the  year  1882  gave  1444  tons  of  fine 
copper  valued  at  £80,000. 

About  60  miles  to  the  east,  and  90  miles  to  the  south  of  Cobar, 
are  situated  respectively  the  Girilambone  mine  and  the  Mount 
Hope  mine  which  are  being  developed.  Five  other  copper  lodes 
in  the  Cobar  district  have  been  lately  taken  up  The  out-put  of 
of  copper  from  the  Beranga  Copper  mine,  near  Eockley,  for  1882 
was  465  tons,  and  from  the  Frogmore  mine  118  tons.  Other 
lodes  have  been  worked  at  Peelwood,  Cadia,  Tamworth,  and  in 
numerous  other  widely  separated  portions  of  the  Colony  ;  but 
chiefly  owing  to  the  difficulties  of  transit,  and  the  low  market 
value  of  the  metal,  as  well  as  to  other  causes,  they  have  not  been 
extensively  worked.  We  have  therefore  evidence  of  the  great 
extent  of  our  copper  resources. 

Silver. 

Silver  mining  in  New  South  Wales  is  still  in  its  infancy,  owing 

to  the  fact  that  until  lately  proper  appliances  for  the  treatment  of 

the  argentiferous  ores  had  not  been  introduced  :  and  it  is  only  at 

the  Boorook  mines,  through  the  enterprise  of  Messrs  Hall  and 


576  president's  address. 

Davey,  that  such  appliances  have  been  employed.  From  these 
mines  about  65,000  ounces  of  silver  were  obtained  last  year,  the 
average  yield  of  the  ore  being  at  the  rate  of  about  110  ounces  of 
silver  per  ton  of  ore,  taken  from  various  depths  to  145  feet.  The 
lodes,  which  are  from  4  to  9  feet  wide,  traversing  Devonian 
shales  and  belts  of  felspar  porphj^'v,  consist  of  quartz  with 
blue  clay,  containing  pyrites,  galena,  blende,  gold,  and  sulphide 
and  chloride  of  silver. 

From  the  Sunny  Corner  mine,  Mitchell's  Creek,  argentiferous 
sulphides  are  being  worked  and  shipped  to  England  for  treatment. 

Other  silver  bearing  lodes  have  been  tested  in  the  Hartley, 
Macleay,  Yass,  Bega,  and  other  districts,  with  as  yet  unsatis- 
factory results ;  but  the  recent  discoveries  at  Thackaringa  and 
Silverton,  in  the  Albert  district,  are  of  a  most  promising  character. 
Here  ferruginous  galena  lodes,  yielding  rich  specimens  of 
chloride  of  silver,  have  been  found  in  places  within  a  tract  of 
country  30  miles  long  and  15  miles  wide.  The  lodes  strike  about 
north  and  south,  and  vary  in  width  up  to  4  feet :  the  formation 
of  the  country  is  mica  schist  with  granite,  and  porphyry. 

Iron. 

Another  of  our  great  sources  of  future  wealth  which  is  also 
in  its  infantile  stage  of  developement  is  iron  mining.  With 
our  rapid  national  progress  our  demands  for  iron  and  steel  are 
greatly  increasing  ;  but  while  other  more  easily  developed  in- 
dustries chiefly  engage,  as  they  now  do,  the  attention  of  the 
present  scanty  population  of  the  Colony,  and  thereby  keep  up  the 
price  of  labour,  the  growth  of  this  particular  industry  must 
necessarily  be  slow.  Nevertheless  it  is  satisfactory  to  know  that 
we  possess  inexhaustible  supplies  of  the  raw  material — iron  ores, 
coal,  limestone,  and  manganese — and  that  these  are  readily 
available  whenever  circumstances  admit  of  their  being  more 
profitably  worked.  Near  Mittagong  and  Berrima  extensive 
deposits  of  rich  limonite  occur  in  the  midst  of  a  coal  field,  but  the 
attempt  to  work  them  at  Fitzroy  proved  a  failure.  Since  then 
the  Eskbank   Iron    Company  have  established   smelting  works 


president's  address.  577 

with  rolling  mills  at  Lithgow.  During  1882  the  Company  made 
4,320  tons  of  pig  iron,  2,139  tons  of  j&nished  iron,  and  1,016  tons 
of  castings,  the  total  valued  at  £37,224, 

The  iron  ores  available  at  Lithgow  consist  chiefly  of  limonite, 
occurring  as  thin  irregular  bands  of  rich  quality,  interstratified 
with  the  Coal  Measures,  and  more  siliceous  ores  in  shale  beds  and 
veins  in  the  overlying  Hawkesbury  series  ;  limonite  and  magnetite 
with  garnet  iron  ore  in  lodes  and  irregular  patches  near  Waller- 
awang  ;  and  large  patches  of  rich  limonite  and  magnetite  in  the 
Blayney  district.  In  many  other  parts  of  the  Colony  rich  iron 
ore  deposits  also  occur. 

Antimony. 

The  principal  antimony  lodes  which  have  been  mined  upon, 
are  those  in  the  Macleay  and  Armidale  districts  ;  but  owing  to 
the  irregular  thickness  of  the  lodes,  from  thin  veins  to  bunches 
of  ore  of  considerable  size,  and  the  low  price  of  the  metal,  they 
are  not  much  worked.  Ore  to  the  value  of  £16,732  was  raised 
in  1882.  The  lodes  near  the  Macleay  Eiver  occur  in  Devonian 
strata,  while  those  of  Hillgrove,  near  Armidale,  traverse  both 
sedimentary  rocks  and  granite.  Here  they  are  more  or  less  rich 
in  gold,  and  one  of  them  is  now  being  worked  for  that  metal. 
The  ores  consist  of  stibnite  and  cervantite.  Other  lodes  have 
been  found  near  Solferino  and  in  the  Cudgegong  district. 

Lead. 

Ores  of  Lead  occur  sparingly  in  most  of  the  auriferous  quartz 
veins  throughout  the  Colony,  and  in  some  considerable  quantity 
in  veins  in  the  Yass,  Mylora,  Mitchell's  Creek,  Peelwood,  and 
Bombala  districts ;  but  hitherto  they  have  not  been  profitably 
worked. 

Argentiferous  galena  lodes  are  now  being  prospected  near 
Thackaringa  and  Umberumberka. 

Zinc  blende  is  also  of  frequent  occurrence,  but  not  in  payable 
quantity. 

Bismuth. 

Quartz  reefs  containing  native  bismuth,  with  sulphide,  carbonate, 
and  oxide  of  bismuth,  have  been  discovered  and  partly  worked 


578  president's  address. 

near  Glen  Innes  and  at  Silent  Grove  in  New  England.  The 
quartz  veins  are  really  pipe-veins  of  very  irregular  thickness,  and 
the  bismuth  ores  occur  in  them  in  nests,  or  in  joint-fissures,  and 
associated  with  arsenical  pyrites,  molybdenite,  wolfram  tin  and 
gold.  As  yet  the  ore  has  only  been  treated  by  inefficient  washing 
methods,  but  if  smelting  appliances  were  to  be  introduced,  I  am 
of  opinion  that  these  reefs  would  be  largely  worked. 

Cobalt  and  Manganese. 

Bich  manganese  ores  with  traces  of  cobalt  are  found  in  con- 
siderable quantity  in  the  Bendemeer  district,  and  ferro- 
manganese  near  Bathurst  and  Goulburn.  These  deposits  will 
be  of  future  commercial  value.  Manganese  ore  containing 
4  per  cent  of  cobalt  occurs  at  Bungonia,  and  it  has  lately  been 
taken  up  to  work  for  cobalt. 

Chromite. 

Chromic  iron  associated  with  serpentine  occurs  in  some 
abundance  near  Tamworth  and  Grafton.  There  is  no  local 
demand  for  it  at  present,  and  it  is  doubtful  if  the  price  of  the 
ore  in  Europe  would  cover  the  cost  of  raising  and  shipment. 

Mercury. 

The  occurrence  of  cinnabar  near  Cudgegong  has  been  known 
for  some  years,  but  the  prospecting  operations  have  not  yet 
proved  it  payable. 

Diamonds. 

Upwards  of  10,000  diamonds  are  stated  to  have  been  found 
in  the  Colony.  These  were  chiefly  obtained  from  the  Tertiary 
alluvial  drifts  in  the  Bingera  and  Cudgegong  districts  about 
the  year  1873.  Mr.  D.  Dougherty,  who  was  Manager  of  the 
Gwydir  Diamond  Mining  Company,  informed  me  that  in  67 
working  days,  1540  diamonds  were  obtained,  and  that  the  yield 
from  the  washing  of  33  loads  of  drift  was  619  diamonds,  from  19 
loads,  322  diamonds,  and  the  prospecting  of  151  loads  from  24 
different  places  produced  104  diamonds,  which  were  nearly 
all  of  small  size  and  averaging  about  one  carat  grain  each,  and 


pri^sident's  address.  579 

of  light  straw  and  pale  greenish  colour.  Diamonds  have  been 
found  in  other  parts  of  the  Colony,  the  largest  on  record  weighed 
about  5^  carats. 

Mining  specially  for  diamonds  has  been  given  up  for  some 
years  past ;  but  quite  recently  attention  has  again  been  given  to 
the  deposits  near  Bingera. 

Asbestos. 
This  mineral  is  found  in  various  localities,  especially  in  the 
Bathurst  and  Gundagai  district ;  in  the  latter,  at  Jones  Creek, 
about  12  tons  of  it  valued  at  £323  have  been  raised.  The  veins 
are  very  irregular  ia  thickness  and  have  not  yet  been  thoroughly 
prospected.  Some  of  the  asbestos  obtained  is  of  excellent 
quality,  being  in  long  and  flexible  fibres,  but  the  most  of  it  is 
short  in  the  fibre  and  would  probably  answer  for  the  manu  • 
facture  of  paint. 

Slates  and  Flagging. 

Eoofing  slates  and  slate  flagging  of  good  quality  are  obtained 
from  the  quarries  at  Milla  Murra  near  Bathurst,  also  near 
Gundagai  and  Goulburn. 

Splendid  sandstone  flagging  is  quarried  near  Orange,  Bur- 
rowa,  and  at  Buckingbong  near  Narrandera. 

Building  Stones. 

Sydney  is  specially  favoured  with  a  very  fine  building  stone 
which  is  quarried  from  the  beds  of  sandstone  of  the  Hawkes- 
bury  formation  which  underlies  the  City.  This  great  standstone 
formation  extends  for  many  miles  to  the  North,  West,  and  South 
from  Sydney.  The  stone  is  of  a  light  sepia  brown  colour, 
sometimes  white,  and  samples  of  it  from  Pyrmont  of  which  the 
Sydney  Post  Office  is  built,  have  withstood  a  test  of  200  tons 
pressure. 

Excellent  sandstone  is  obtained  from  the  Coal  Measures,  and 
from  the  Devonian  beds  in  various  parts  of  the  Colony. 

Granite  is  available  in  many  districts.  The  gray  granite  of 
which  the  large  polished  pillars  in  the  Post  Ofiice  and  other 
public  edifices,  and  the  large  pedestal  for  the  Queen's  Statue 
aU 


580  president's  address. 

near  Hyde  Park,  are  composed,  comes  from  Moruya.  A  more 
beautiful  granite  containing  large  crystals  of  Adularia  Felspar  is 
quarried  at  Montague  Island. 

Marble  occurs  in  large  masses  near  Wallerawang,  Blayney, 
Marulan,  Mudgee,  Wellington,  Kempsey,  Tam worth,  and  in 
other  localities.  It  varies  in  colour  from  white,  grey,  and  red 
to  black,  and  has  been  chiefly  quarried  for  flooring-tiles  and 
mantlepieces. 

The  Wianamatta  shales  and  the  shale  beds  in  the  Hawkes- 
bury  series  and  in  the  Coal  Measures,  afford  good  material 
in  great  abundance  for  almost  all  kinds  of  brick  and  pottery 
making. 

Infusorial   Earth. 

A  large  deposit  of  infusorial  earth  of  Tertiary  age  occurs  near 
Barraba ;  and  another  deposit  of  better  quality  has  been  found 
by  Mr.  W.  L.  Gipps  near  the  Warrumbungle  Mountains.  This 
earth  is  not  of  local  commercial  value  at  present,  but  will  pro- 
bably be  in  demand  in  the  future  for  employment  in  the  manu- 
facture of  explosives. 

Artesian  Wells. 

Another  of  our  natural  resources,  and  one  which  will  prove 
of  immense  benefit  to  a  large  portion  of  this  colony  and  of  the 
adjoining  colonies  of  Queensland  and  South  Australia,  is 
artesian  water.  In  January  1881 1  had  the  pleasure  of  communi- 
cating to  this  Society  some  particulars  kindly  given  to  me  by 
one  of  our  members,  Mr.  H.  A.  Gilliat,  Government  Inspector 
of  Tanks,  regarding  the  discovery  by  Mr.  David  Brown, 
Manager  of  the  Killarah  Station,  of  several  artesian  springs  at 
Wee  Wattah  and  Mulyeo.  Soon  after  this  Mr.  David  Wilson 
obtained  a  large  supply  of  good  water  by  sinking  and  boring 
to  great  depths  upon  several  portions  of  the  Dunlop  Eun  in  the 
same  Darling  Eiver  District.  And  recently  the  Government 
boring  party,  in  charge  of  Mr.  H.  Ford,  sent  out  by  the  Hon. 
the  Minister  for  Mines  to  put.  down  a  series  of  bores  across  the 
dry  country  in  the  north-west  portion  of  the  colony,  has  struck  a 
supply  of  fresh  water  which  flows  from  the  pipes  at  a  height  of 


president's  address.  581 

10  feet  above  the  surface.  In  this  instance  and  at  Danlop  the 
water-bearing  strata  belong  to^the  Cretaceous  formation;  and  the 
Pleistocene  '^  Mud  Springs,"  in  which  the  Killarah  bores  were 
put  down,  are  doubtless  natural  artesian  springs  issuing  from 
fissures  in  the  underlying  Cretaceous  formation.  This  water- 
bearing formation,  as  shown  on  the  Geological  map  of  N.  S. 
Wales,  occupies  an  area  of  about  32,000  square  miles;  and  as 
it  forms  excellent  pasturage  country,  which  is  naturally  deficient 
in  permanent  surface  water,  the  value  of  the  available  under- 
ground supply  cannot  be  overestimated. 

I  have  given  you  only  a  brief  account  of  the  economic  mineral 
resources  of  New  South  Wales.  I  would  like  to  have  also  made 
reference  to  those  of  the  other  Australian  colonies,  for  they  are  all 
naturally  united  to  us,  though  not  at  present  politically  so  ;  but 
further  elaboration  of  the  subject  would  exceed  the  bounds  of 
a  short  address.  What  I  have  said,  however,  is  I  think  sufficient 
to  show  that  in  coal,  gold,  tin  and  copper,  we  have  already 
inexhaustible  sources  of  wealth  and  industry  ;  and  that  in 
some  of  the  other  minerals  mentioned,  especially  iron  ores, 
we  possess  undoubted  abundance  of  material  for  future  develop- 
ment ;  while  the  extent  and  value  of  the  others  have  not  yet  been 
proved.  And  more  than  this,  there  are  extensive  sources  of 
underground  water  snpply  which  when  made  available  will 
immensely  increase  the  value  of  a  large  extent  of  the  more  purely 
pastoral  portion  of  the  territory.  With  evidence  of  such  material 
wealth  who  can  say  to  what  degree  of  national  prosperity  this 
country  may  not  attain.  Perceiving  this,  what  a  field  for  future 
usefulness  lies  open  for  investigation  by  not  only  one,  but 
many  scientific  Societies.  And  herein  lies  our  own  responsibility, 
for  our  Society,  as  a  Society  devoted  to  Natural  Science  investi- 
gation, should  have  great  influence  in  directing  the  public  mind, 
particularly  in  reference  to  scientific  discoveries.  I  am  aware  that 
such  work  involves  the  exercise  of  much  individual  self-denial 
and  laborious  research  ;  indeed  some  of  the  works  recorded  in  the 
proceedings  of  the  Society  exemplify  this.  But  the  natural  laws 
of  development  show  that  in  the  survival  of  the  fittest  in  the 


582  president's  address. 

struggle  for  existence  self-interest  and  self-preservation,  and  not 
self-sacrifice,  have  been  the  guiding  principles  by  whicli  aniutated 
beings  have  arrived  at  their  present  state  of  perfection.  Yet  how 
is  it  that  man  exercises  the  principle  of  self-sacrifice,  which  is 
universally  acknowledged  to  be  the  most  noble  trait  of  character, 
and  which  is  apparently  quite  opposed  to  that  of  natural  growth  1 
Clearly,  if  he  acknowledge  only  the  natural  life,  is  he  not  thiTS 
acting  against  his  own  interests'?  Why,  then,  has  this  new 
principle  been  implanted  in  his  nature  by  the .  Creatar,  if  it 
has  not  reference  to  the  development  from  the  natural  into  a 
higher  and  Divine  life  ?  If  it  has,  then  by  the  exercise  of  it  our 
labours  bear  the  stamp  of  a  high  purpose.  And  working  with  this 
noble  aim  we  shall  realise  the  fulfilment  of  the  time,  now 
rapidly  dawning,  when  "  truth  shall  S2')ring  out  of  the  earth  and 
righteousness  shall  look  down  from  Heaven. " 

Tennyson,  in  pourtraying  man's  natural  state,  says  of  liini — 

And  he,  shall  he 
Man,  her  last  work,  who  seem'd  so  fair, 
Such  splendid  purpose  in  his  eyes. 


Who  loved,  who  suffer'd  countless  ills, 
Who  battled  for  the  True,  the  Just, 
Be  blown  about  the  desert  dust, 
Or  seal'd  within  the  iron  hills  ? 
No  more  1    A  monster  then,  a  dream, 
A  discord. 


It  was  moved  l)y  the  Hon.  P.  CI.  King,  M.L.C.,  seconded  by  Dr. 
Cox,  and  carried — "That  a  vote  of  thanks  should  be  awarded  to 
the  President  for  his  valuable  address." 

The  Treasurer,  the  Hon.  J.  Norton,  M.L.C.,  read  the  balance- 
sheet,  showing  a  credit  balance  of  .£179  l'2s.  Id.  Of  this  the  sum 
of  <£60  5s.   consisted  of  subscriptions  to  the  Library  Fund. 

The  Hon.  W.  Macleay,  M.L  C,  proposed  certain  alterations  in 
the  rules,  increasing  the  number  of  Vice-presidents,  establishing 
the  Office  of  Honorary  Librarian,  and  adding  one  more  member  to 
the  Council.     These  proposals  were  carried  unanimously. 


OFFICE    BEARERS.  583 

The  Mooting  tlioa  procoodod  to  the   election  of  Oftlc(!rs  for  the 
cuiTont  year,  with  the  folh:)\ving  result  :  — 

President  : 
C.  S.  WiLiaNsoN,  Esq.,  F.L.S.,  F.G.S. 

Vice-Presidents  : 

Rev.  J.  E.  Tenison- Woods,  F.L.S.,  etc. 

Dr.  James  C.  Cox,  F.L.S. 

Honorary  Secretaries  : 
Hon.  William  Macleay,  F.L.S. 
Professor  W.  J.  Stephens,  M.A. 

Honorary  Librarian : 
William  A.  Haswell,  M.A.,  B.Sc. 

Honorary   Treasurer  : 
Hon.  James  Norton,  M.L.C. 

Council : 

4 

John  Brazier,  C.M.Z.S.  Edwin  Haviland,  Esq. 

Dr.  Thomas  Dixson,  M.R.C.S.        Hon.  P.  G.  King,  M.L.C. 
J.  J.   Fle'icher,  M.A.,  B.Sc.  P.    Ft.   Pedley,  Esq. 

J.  G.  Griffin,  C.E.,  A.M.LC.E.     E.  P.  Ramsay,   F.L.S. 
H.   R.  Whittell.  Esq. 


INDEX    TO    VOL.    Ylll. 


Acacia  vdscidula 
Acaena  sangiiitorbaB... 
Acanthophis  antarctica 
Acanthurus  Dussumieri 

glaucopareius 
zebra 
Actinotus  Gibbonsii  .. 
Adiantuin  cliaphaniim 
.Egotheles  pluniifera 
^Eluroedus  melanocephalus 
^schrichthys  Goldiei 
Albizzia  Hendersoni 
Alethopteris  Australis 
concinna 
Currani 
Alsophila  Leichardtiana 
Ambassis  Commersonii 
Amphiprion  arion 

melanopus 
Papuensis 
Amphisile  strigata    . . . 
Anampses  coeruleopunctatiu 

pterophthalmus 
Aneimites  iguanensis 
Angiopteridium  ensis 
Anguilla  margiiiipinnis 
Anisopogon  avenaceus 
Aunularia  Australis 
Anthias  Mortoni 
Antbropodium  laxuin 
Antidica  barysoma   ... 

eriomorpha 
Apogon  Burnensis 

macropterus 
trimaculatus 
Apogoiiichthys  Gillii 
Apocryptes  fasciatus 
Araucaria  Bidwellii 
Araiicarites  polycarpa 
Arch^eopteris  Howittii 

Wilkinsonii 
Argophyllum  Lejourdanii 
Aristeus  Goldiei 
Arius  armiger 
Australis 
latirostris 
Asperula  oligantha   ... 
Aster  ramulssus 
Atherinichthys  maculatus 


Page 

.     244 

Atomotricha  oinmatias 

.     245 

Avicula  Barklyi 

.     433 

Baeckea  ere  nu  lata 

.     266 

densifolia 

265 

Balistes  Papuensis 

.     447 

Batrachus  dubius 

..     171 

punctulatus 

.     469 

Belemnites  Australis 

.       21 

Belone  Krefftii 

.       25 

Bertya  rosmarinifolia 

5,  270 

Blandfordia  nobilis    . . . 

.     244 

Blechnum  serrulatum 

.     Ill 

Blennius  periophthalmoides 

112 

Boronia  Barkeriana  ... 

..     113 

Bossia^a  Scortechini 

.     469 

Brachalletes  Palmeri 

.     255 

Brachycome  ciliaris  ... 

..     450 

discolor 

..     271 

Stuartii 

..     271 

Brachyphyllum  Australe 

..     271 

crassum 

..     272 

Brachysara  sordida   . . . 

..     272 

C^sio  chrysozona 

..       95 

cterulaureus    ... 

..     119 

lunaris 

..     210 

Calamites  radiatus    ... 

..     469 

varians      ... 

..       86 

Calauthe  veratrifolia 

..     253 

Callicoma  serratifolia 

..     175 

Callistemon  linearis 

..     383 

pithyoides 

..     382 

Callitris  Muelleri       ... 

.      255 

Callyodon  Molluccensis 

..     255 

spinidens 

..     256 

Calochilus  paludosus 

..     200 

Cancellaria  undulata 

..     268 

Caprimulgus  macron r us 

..     176 

Caranx  boops 

.     164 

compressus  . . . 

..       96 

Georgianus  ... 

..       97 

Carenum  De  Visii     ... 

..     246 

ianthinum 

..     269 

pusillum 

..     454 

terrse-reginaj 

..     209 

Carpophaga  poliura 

..     277 

Cassinea  denticulata 

..     252 

Castanospora  Alphandi 

..     171 

Casuarius  Beccari 

..     207 

Catascopus  laticollis 

Paye 

...  325 

...  240 
246.468 

..  169 

...  279 

...  267 

...  177 

...  236 

...  209 

...  174 

...  469 

...  469 

...  269 

...  468 

...  175 

...  190 

...  171 

...  171 

...  171 

...  159 

...  159 

...  325 

..  262 

...  262 

...  262 

...  83 

...  83 

...  468 

...  468 

...  468 

...  170 

...  175 

...  276 

...  276 

...  468 

...  226 

..  28 

...  266 

..  204 

204 

...  412 

..  412 
412 

...  411 

...  28 

...  468 

...  243 

...  27 

...  410 


Caulopteris  Adamsi 
Centropogon  robustus 
Ceratodus  Forsteri    ... 
Ceriops  Candolleana 
Cha3todon  citrinellus 
melanotus 
ornatissimus 
plebejiis 
Chanos  salmoneus     ... 
Chatoessus  elongatus 

Erebi       ... 
Chirocentrus  dorab  ... 
Clilamydosaurus  Kingii 
Choretrum  laterifolium 
Chorinemus  Lysan    ... 
Toloo     ... 
Chrysophrys  hasta    ... 
Circeloroma  Ajax 
Cirrhilabrus  Soloreusis 
Cirrhites  arcatus 
Clupea  Snndaica 
Collyriocincla  rufigaster 
Columbella  Tayloriana 
Comesperma  sph^rocarpum 
Compsotropha  charidotis 
selenias 
strophiella 
Conger  marginatus    ... 
Conus  modulosus 
Copidogldiiis  taudauus 
Cordaites  Australis 
Coris  Papuensis 
variegata 
Corvina  argentea 
Crossorhinus  ornatus 
Cryptostylis  erecta   ... 
Cunninghamites  Australis 
Cuttsia  vibui-nea 
Cybiiim  Commersonii 
semifasciatum 
Cyclopteris  cuneata  ... 
Cyclostigma  Australe 
Dactylophora  semimaciilata 
Dampiera  Brownii 
Dendrobium  cucumerinum 
Dendrolagus  Dorianus 
Dendrophis  bilorealis 
Diagramma  affine 

hsematochir 

labiosum 

Lessonii 

pardalis 

polytsenia 


Page 

Page 

...     132 

Diagramma  radja 

...     261 

...     203 

unicolor 

...     261 

...     211 

Didiscus  albiflorus    ... 

...     468 

...     247 

Diodon  hystrix 

...     280 

...     262 

Dipluicephala  cceruJea 

...     415 

...     262 

hirtipennis 

...     415 

...     262 

latipennis 

...     415 

...     262 

Dracophyllum  secundum 

...     468 

...     210 

Drepanornis  d'Albertisi 

...       28 

...     209 

Drosera  peltata 

...     246 

...     209 

Dules  Guamensis 

...     257 

...     210 

Papuensis 

...     257 

...     300 

Dussumiera  acuta     . . . 

...     278 

...     175 

Duymeria  nematoptera 

...    272 

...     205 

Echeneis  naucrates  ... 

...     266 

..      205 

Eciiidna  hystrix 

...     425 

203, 265 

Eleotris  immaculatus 

...     268 

...       26 

ophiocephalus 

...     269 

...     272 

planiceps 

...     206 

...     265 

Elops  saurus 

...     210 

...     209 

Engraulis  B  amiltoni 

...     209 

...       28 

Epacris  longiflora     ... 

..      468 

...     228 

Epilobium  tetragonum 

...     250 

...     468 

Equisetum  latum 

...       87 

...     513 

rotiferum 

...       80 

..      512 

Equula  edentula 

205,266 

...     513 

Eriodyta  abductella 

..      517 

...     278 

contentella 

...     515 

...     441 

hololeuca 

...     518 

...     208 

leptostola 

...     517 

...     155 

sigmophora 

...     516 

...     275 

subpunctella 

...     516 

...     275 

vernalis      . . . 

...     519 

...     i^04 

Erythura  trichroa     ... 

...       20 

...     289 

Eucalyptus  capitellata 

...     170 

..     468 

leucoxylon 

...     248 

...     165 

robusta... 

...     248 

...     246 

Eugenia  corynantha 

...     249 

...     266 

Hodgkinsouiaj 

...     249 

...     205 

humilampra 

...     249 

..     109 

Moorei 

...     249 

..     138 

oleosa 

...     250 

..     284 

Eulechria  aceraea 

...     324 

..     172 

aerodes     . . . 

...     321 

..     468 

leucophanes 

...     320 

17,  197 

omlirophora 

...     322 

..     435 

sciophanes 

..     323 

..     202 

tanyscia    . . . 

...     322 

..     261 

Eupetes  Ajax 

...       26 

..     202 

Eurostopodus  Astrolabse 

...       20 

..     260 

Eutoma  punctipenne 

...     411 

..     260 

Exocoetus  arcticeps    . . 

...     278 

..     261 

longibarbus 

...     454 

HI. 


Pasje 

Fistularia  serrata 

...     270 

Haloragis  alata 

Galium  Australe 

...     252 

tencrioides 

Gingamopteris  angustifolia 

...     127 

Hapalotis  Papuanus 

Clark  eana 

..      127 

Harpage  berycidte     ... 

obliqua 

...     127 

rosea 

spathiilata 

...     127 

Helix  Thorpeiana      ... 

Gastrotokeus  biaculeatus 

..     279 

Walleri           

Gelechia  lactella 

...     328 

Heniochus  chrysostomus 

Genyoroge  Macleyana 

...     178 

macrolepidotus 

Gerres  filamentosus  . . . 

...     203 

Herbertophis  plumbeus 

Poeti 

...     261 

Heterodontus  Japonicus 

Girella  carbonaria     . . . 

...     283 

Hibbertia  fasciculata 

mentalis 

...     284 

Hieropola  jucundella 

Gleichenia  dubia 

...     130 

Hinulia  elegans 

lineata     ... 

...     130 

Holocanthus  diacanthus 

Glossopteris  ampla    . . . 

...     124 

navarchus 

Browniana 

122, 126 

semicircularis     . . 

Clarkei 

...     126 

Hovea  linearis 

cordata 

...     124 

Hydrocotyle  laxiflora 

elegans 

...     125 

pedicellosa 

elongata 

...     124 

tripartita 

linearis 

...     123 

Hymenophyllum  marginatum 

parallela 

...     125 

Hypolepis  tenuif olia 

precursor 

...     126 

Indigofera  saxicola 

priniffiva 

..      126 

loptera  aristogona     ... 

reticulata 

...     124 

Ixora  Beckleri 

tseniopterioides 

...     125 

Jeanpaulia  bidens 

Wilkinsoni 

...     125 

Julis  dorsalis 

Glyphidodon  amabilis 

...     452 

Guntheri 

bimaculatus 

...     271 

Jansenii 

nigrifrons 

...     271 

Knoxia  corymbosa    ... 

pallidus 

...     452 

Kogia  Greyi 

uniocellatus 

..      453 

Labrichthys  dux 

Gobiodon  axillaris     . . . 

...     448 

Labroides  paradiseus 

flavidus    . . . 

...     449 

Lambertia  formosa 

inornatus 

...     449 

Larrada  Austral  is      ... 

lineatus     ... 

...     449 

Lates  Darwiniensis  ... 

Gobiosoma  punctularum 

..      449 

Leipoa  ocellata 

Gobius  cireunispectus 

...     267 

Leistarcha  iobola 

maculipinnis 

...     267 

Leistomorpha  brontoscopa 

ornatus 

...     267 

ochrocausta 

Gomphosus  tricolor  ... 

...     275 

Leme  mordax 

Goodia  latifolia 

...     243 

Lepidodendron  Australe 

Goura  d  Albertisi 

...       26 

nothum 

Grammistes  orientalis 

...     255 

veltheimianum 

Grevillea  ilicifolia     ... 

...     174 

Lepidotrigla  Mulhalli 

linearis 

...     468 

Leptorrhynclius  squamatus     ... 

Haemodorum  teretifolium 

...     468 

Lethrinus  hgematopterus 

Hakea  dactyloides    . . . 

...     173 

Liasis  punctulata 

microcarpa     . . . 

...     173 

Linosticha  canephora 

Halmaturus  dorsalis 

8 

scythropa 

rufi  colli  s 

7 

Liparetrus  convexiusculus 

ualabatus 

8 

Locheutis  ancyrota 

IV. 


Page 

Locheutis  desmophora 

343 

Nephogenes  ^thalea 

philochroa 

342 

apora     ... 

Logania  floribunda    ... 

172 

egelida 

Loranthus  Bidwillii 

251 

ennephela 

Lucina  dentata 

229 

fcedatella 

Macarthuria  neocambrica 

250 

mathematica 

Machetis  aplirobola  ... 

331 

microschema 

Macronemata  elaphia 

346 

orescoa 

lopelictes 

346 

philopsamma 

Macrotaeniopteris  \Yianamatt8e 

118 

protorthra 

Macropus  major 

9 

Nesiotes  purpurascens 

Macropygia  Doreya  ... 

27 

Neuropteris  Australis 

Malacanthus  latovittatus 

266 

gigantea 

Manucodia  atra 

25 

Noeggerathiopsis  elongata      ... 

Megalops  cyprinoides             210,  278 

media 

Melaleuca  armillaris ... 

170 

prisca 

hypericif  olia 

468 

spathulata  ... 

linearif  olia 

468 

Notelea  linearis 

thymifolia              248 

,468 

Novacula  macrolepidota 

Melania  acanthica     ... 

295 

pentadactyla 

Melanocharis  bicolor 

24 

Odatria  ocellata 

Meriaiiopteris  maj  or 

114 

Odontopteris  microphylla 

Mesolecta  psacasta  ... 

371 

Oecophora  sordida 

Mesoprion  flavirosea 

446 

Oenochroa  endochlora 

marginipinnis 

254 

iobaphes 

sexf  asciatus 

255 

lactella 

M  etrosideros  glomulif era 

468 

Oligorus  Macquariensis 

Microglossus  aterrimus 

27 

Ophichthys  cobra     .. 

Mirbelia  reticulata  ... 

468 

iiaja 

speciosa 

169 

Osphranter  robustus 

Modiolaria  barbata     . . 

233 

ruf  us 

Mollugo  spergula 

250, 

Ostracion  Sebffi 

Monacauthus  melanocephalus 

279 

Otidiphaps  cervicalis 

monoceros 

279' 

Otozamites  Maudeslohi 

priouurus 

279 

Palorchestes  Azael 

scriptus 

279 

Pamborus  viridi-aureus 

Morelia  variegata      ... 

433 

Panax  sambucifolius 

Mugil  compressus     ... 

269 

Paradisea  Raggiana 

dobula 

208 

Susanna 

•   papillosus 

270 

Passiflora  Herbertiana 

Kamsayi 

208 

Patella  aculeata 

Waigiensis 

207 

Paxillus  hirtulus       ... 

Mulloides  flavolineatus 

263 

Pecopteris  tenuifolia 

Murffiiia  cancellata    ... 

278 

Pecten  psila               ..; 

Mursenesox  cinereus 

278 

Pelopseus  Isetus 

Myoporum  Bateas     ... 

468 

Pempheris  Otaitensis 

Myriophyllum  varisefolium     ... 

247 

Percis  Coxii 

Myripristis  microphthalmus  ... 

265 

Periopbthalmus  Australis 

Myrsine  variabilis     ... 

421 

Persoonia  revoluta    . . 

Myrtas  Beckleri 

249 

Petalanthes  hexastera 

Myzomela  eques 

19 

periclyta 

Natica  Incei 

225 

sphajrophora 

Neosilurus  Hyrtlii    .,. 

208 

Petrogale  penicillata 

Page 

Pag-e 

Philobota  acroiDola    ... 

...     485 

Philobota  pulverea 

..     509 

acutella     ... 

...     503 

squalidella 

..     496 

adaptella  ... 

..     500 

tentatella 

..     507 

agnesella  ... 

...     493 

trijugella  ... 

..     503 

anachorda 

...     499 

tyroxantha 

..     497 

ancylotaxa 

..      475 

xanthiella 

..     505 

Arabella 

...     473 

xiphostola 

..     482 

atmobola 

...     486 

Philoeopola  asbolaea 

..     349 

auriceps     . . . 

...     478 

banausa  ... 

..'   .S56 

aurinatella 

...     504 

confusella 

..     354 

biraaculana 

...     506 

dinocosma 

..     349 

biophora   ... 

...     474 

exarcha  ... 

..     357 

bracteatella 

...     502 

helica 

..     351 

brochosema 

...     500 

lithoglypta 

..     358 

calamaca  ... 

..     492 

melanodelta 

..     359 

catalampra 

...     478 

psephophora 

.     352 

catascia     ... 

...     476 

semocausta 

..     350 

chionoptera 

...     494 

gynchyta 

..     355 

chrysopotama 

..     476 

turbatella 

..     353 

•      crepera      . . . 

...     484 

Phriconyma  lucifuga 

..     340 

cretacea    ... 

...     491 

Phyllota  pliylicoides 

..     468 

crocobapta 

...     498 

Phyllotheca  Australis 

..       72 

crypsichola 

...     482 

carnosa 

..       75 

declivis      . . 

...     479 

concinna 

..      75 

electrodes... 

...     509 

Hookeri 

..      73 

ellenella    . . . 

...     477 

ramosa  .., 

..      73 

erebodes   ... 

...     487 

Piloprepes  semulella 

..     366 

euxantha  ... 

...     505 

iriodes     ... 

..     365 

glaucoptera 

...     490 

Pimelepterus  Waigiensis 

..     264 

hapula 

...     489 

Pirenopsis  costata     ... 

..     294 

herodiella... 

...     489 

Pittosporum  phillyrfeoides 

..     242 

homotona... 

...     508 

Placocosma  anthopetala 

..     333 

hydara 

...     494 

hepha^stea 

..     333 

hypocausta 

...     481 

Plagusia  notata 

..     288 

interlineatella 

...     501 

Platycephalus  Mortoni 

..     206 

irruptella  . . , 

...     475 

Qnoyi 

..     267 

latifissella 

...     480 

Semermis 

..     285 

leucomitra 

...     488 

Platyglossus  Geoffroyi 

.      274 

melanoploca 

...     508 

guttatus 

.,     274 

melirrhoa 

...     498 

Hcevenii 

..     273 

molliculella 

...     480 

margaritaceus    . 

..     274 

monogramma 

...     493 

melanurus 

..     274 

monolitha 

...     477 

modestus 

..     273 

monophaes 

...     504 

pcecilus 

..     273 

nephelarcha 

...     483 

trimacnlatus 

..     273 

occidua     ... 

...     507 

Plotosus  anguillaris  ... 

..     276 

orinoma    . . . 

...     486 

Plutella  cruciferaruin 

..     282 

partitella  ... 

...     491 

Podozamites  Barkleyi 

..     143 

pedetes     ... 

...    488 

ellipticus 

..     144 

phauloscopha 

...     484 

lanceolatus 

.     145 

preticsella 

...     499 

longifolius 

.     145 

productella 

...     496 

Poecilodryas  albifacies 

.       25 

pruinosa 

...     495 

sylva 

19 

Page 

Page 

Poecilus  Isevis 

.     414 

Serranus  Damelii 

...     254 

Polymeria  calycina 

.     468 

estuarius     . . . 

...     200 

Polynemus    specularis 

.     285 

Howlandi   ... 

...     253 

tetradactylus 

.     20.S 

microdon     . . . 

...     253 

Polypodium  confluens 

.     469 

perguttatus 

...     445 

Polyporus  Pentzkei 

.     175 

Sittella  albif rons 

24 

Polysoma  Cunninghamii 

.     246 

Sphaerodon  grandoculis 

...     264 

Pomacentrus  niomatus 

.     451 

Sphenopteris  alata  ... 

...89,  90 

notatus 

.     451 

Baileyana 

...       93 

onyx 

.     451 

crebra     ... 

...       93 

trifasciatus 

.     452 

elongata... 

...      92 

Pomaderris  prunifolia 

.     169 

erecta     ... 

..       94 

Prostanthera  prunelloides 

.     468 

flabellifolia 

...       94 

Psammoperca  Waigiensis 

.     253 

flexuosa  ... 

..       91 

Psettus  argenteus     ... 

.     266 

germana 

...       91 

Pseudolates  cavifrons 

.     200 

glossophylla 

...      94 

Pseudoscarus  pentazona 

.     276 

hastata    . . 

...       90 

Pseudorhombus  guttulatus     . 

.     276 

iguanensis 

...       92 

Psilocranium  Coxii    ... 

.     440 

lobifolia 

...      88 

Pterostylis  acuminata 

.     468 

plumosa 

...       91 

Ptilophyllum  oligoneurum 

149 

SphyraBna  Forsteri 

...     269 

Ptilopus  bellus 

.       27 

strenua 

...     287 

pulchellus  ... 

.       28 

Sphyrelata  indecorella 

...     362 

superbus     ... 

.       28 

melanoleuca 

.        363 

Pytliia  Argenville     ... 

.     296 

ochropheea 

...     361 

Quintinia  Verdonii   ... 

.     246 

Stangerites  ensis 

.  .     150 

Raia  Australis 

.     461 

Stelliiria  flaccida 

.  .     243 

Raudia  Benthamiana 

.     251 

Stethojulis  albovittata 

...     273 

dentifiora      ... 

.     251 

axillaris 

...     273 

Moorei 

.     251 

Kalosoma 

...     273 

Rectes  f erruginea 

.       26 

phekodopleura 

...     272 

Rhacopteris  inascjuilatera 

.       98 

strigiventer 

...     273 

intermedia 

.       98 

trilineata 

...     272 

Riimeri 

.       98 

Synagris  f urcosus 

...     262 

septentrionalis     . 

.       98. 

Synaptura  cinerea     . . . 

...     288 

Rhamphomantis  Rollesi 

.       23 

Tffiniopteris  Car  ruth  ersii 

...    117 

Rhinobatus  Thouini 

.     280 

Daintreei 

...     117 

Rhizophora  mucronata 

.     274 

Taniura  Mortoni 

...     212 

Rhynchichthys  Novas-Britanni 

se   447 

Talegallus  pyrrhopygius 

...       26 

Rubus  Moorei 

.     468 

Tapes  polita 

...     2.34 

Sagenopteris  rhoifolia 

.     128 

Taxites  medius 

...     160 

Tasmanica 

.     129 

Tetracentrum  apogonoides 

...     256 

Salarias  tequipinnis   .. 

.     450 

Tetraroge  vestitus 

...     446 

griseus 

.     450 

Tetrodon  Bennettii    . . 

...     280 

Saurida  f erox 

.     177 

insularum 

...     456 

Scarichthys  anritus  ... 

.     276 

l?e  vigatus . . . 

...     211 

Scatophagus  multifasciatus     . 

.     203 

Iffivis 

...     456 

Schizsea  rupestris 

.     469 

laterna 

...     280 

Scolopia  Brownii 

.     242 

reticularis 

...     211 

Scorpa3na  cirrhosa 

.     265 

sceleratus 

..      280 

diabolus     ... 

.     265 

Valentini  ... 

..      280 

Sequoiites  Australis.  ; 

.     162 

Therapon  caudovittatus 

...     260 

Serranus  cruentus     ... 

.     446 

chalybeus 

..     259 

Paofc 

Therapon  fuliginosus 

.     201 

Trachypepla  protochlora 

inteiTuptus 

.     258 

spartodeta 

longulus     ... 

.     201 

Triacanthus  biaculeatus 

nasutus 

.     258 

Trichomanides  laxum 

parviceps  ... 

.     201 

spinifolium 

percoides  ... 

.     201 

Trigonia  costata 

trimaculatus 

.     259 

lineata 

truttaceus... 

.     201 

mesembria . . . 

Thinnfeldia  media    ... 

.     102 

nasuta 

Tiaris  Boydii 

.     432 

Trochocopus  sanguinolentus 

Tibarisus  robustus    ... 

.     414 

Tropidonotus  angusticeps 

Timonius  Rumphii    ... 

.     252 

picturatus 

Trachycephalus  Bankiensis     . 

.     456 

Trygon  sephen 

Trachydosaurus  asper 

.     387 

uarnak 

Trachymene  Billardieri 

.     251 

Tugalia  intermedia    . . . 

linearis 

.     251 

Turritella  Sophiee 

Trachypepla  anastrella 

.     370 

Upeneus  filamentosus 

aspidephora 

.     370 

semifasciatus 

conspicuella 

369 

Vermicella  annulata 

euryleucota 

.     369 

Vertebraria  equiseti 

galaxias 

.     369 

Towarrensis 

leucoplanetis 

.     368 

Walcliia  milneana     . . . 

liehenodes 

.     370 

Weinmannia  lachnocarpa 

melanoptila 

.    370 

Xerotes  flexifolia 

nyctopis 

.     369 

Zamites  epibius 

Page 
370 
369 
211 
95 
95 
239 
239 
237 
239 
287 
433 
433 
212 
212 
227 
227 
264 
263 
433 
80 
81 
163 
246 
469 
143 


♦ 

Foldout 

Here 

♦  ♦ 

♦ 


ate  2] 


PL.S.Vol.VUl 


Plate  21 


v  ^ 


r  'r 


.^ 


-\> 


:-:V'.^t'r"-> 


B 


ram 


of    Grays  ¥/kale. 


W.A  H  del. 


STLeiyki  C%  imprint 


SSedgfield  l.bh 


'^^' 


t^^. 


THE 


/%\ 


PEOCEEDINGS 


OF    THE 


LINNEAN   SOCIETY 


OF 


NEW    SOUTH    WALES, 

■VOL.   VIII. 

FAU  T    THE    FIRST. 

Containing  the  Papers  read  at  the  Meetings  held  in  January 
and  February. 


JUNE  19,  1883. 


"%>."■ 


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CONTENTS  OF  TOL.  VIIL.  PART  I. 

^ 

PAGE 

On    a    New    Form   of    Mullet    from    New    Guinea,     By  WiLLiA:\r 

Macleay,  F.L.S.,  &c -2 

On  the  Anatomy  of  the  Uro-genita]  Organs  of  the  Kangaroo  (No.  2). 

By  J.  J.  Fletcher,  M.A.,  B.Sc 6 

On  Remains  of  an  Extinct  Marsupial.  By  Charles  W.  De  Yis,  B,  A.  11 
Contributions  to  the  Zoology  of  New  Guinea.     Bj'  E.  P.  Ramsay, 

F.L.S.,  &c.     Plate  11 15 

On  Some  Habits  of  Pelopceus  Laetus  and  a  Species  of  Larrada.     By 

Mr.  H.  R.  Whittell 29 

On  the  Voracity  of  a  Species  of  Heterostema.  By  Mr.  H.  R.  Whittell  83 
On  the  Coal  Flora  of  Australia.     By  the  Rev.  J.  E.  Tenison-Woods, 

F.L.S.,  &c.     Plates  1— 10a 37 

Further  Contributions   to   the  Flora  of  Queensland.      By  the  Rev. 

B.  Scortechini,  F.L.S 168 

Description  of  Two  New  Fungi.  By  the  Rev.  Carl  Kalchbrenxer  ITi 
Notes  on  the  Fructification  of  the  Bunya-Bunya  in  Sydney.     By  the 

Hon.  James  Norton    ..         ..         ..         ..         ..         ..         ..170 

Description  of  Some  New  Australian  Fishes.     By  E.  P.   Ramsay, 

F.L.S.,  &c 177 

Notes  and  Exhibits  34  and  179 


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Containing  the  Papers  read  at  the  Meetings  held  in  March, 
April,  May  and  June. 


JULY  17,  1883. 


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CONTENTS  OF  VOL.  VHI.,  PAKT  2. 


Occasional  Notes   on  Plants   Indigenous   in   the  Neighbourhood  of 

Sydney.     No.  3.     By  E.  Haviland,  Esq 182 

On  Tooth-Marked    Bones   of    Extinct    Marsupials.      By   Charles 

W.  DeVis,  B.A 187 

On    Brachalletes    Palmeri,    an    Extinct    Marsupial.      By   Charles 

W.  De  Vis,  B.A 190 

On  the   Habits  of  the   Mallee   Hen,    Leipoa   Ocellata.      By  K.  H. 

Bennett,  Esq ...     193 

Notes  on  a  Collection  of  Fishes  from  the  Burdekin  and  Mary  Rivers. 

By  William  Macleay,  F.L  S.,  &c 199 

On  the  Mode  of  Obtaining  Water  from  Eucalyptus  Roots,  practised 

by  the  Natives  in  the  Interior.     By  K.  H.  Bennett,  Esq.         .       213 

Note  on  a  Viviparous  Lizard.     By  J.  J.  Fletcher^  M.A.,  B.Sc.     ...     215 

Notes   on  a  Lower    Jaw    of    Palorchestes    Azael.       By    Charles 

W.  DeVis,  B.A 221 

Synonymy  of  Australian  and  Polynesian  Land  and  Marine  Mollusca. 

By  John  Brazier,  CM. Z  S.,  6.0 224 

On  some    Mesozoic    Fossils  from   Central   Australia.       With   Two 

Plates.  By  the  Rev.  J.  E.  Tenisox- Woods,  F.L.S.,  &c.  ...  235 
A  Second  Half  Century  of  Plants  new  to  South  Queensland.     By  the 

Rev.  B.  ScoRTECHiNi,  F.L.S 242 

Contribution  to  a  Knowledge  of  the  Fishes  of  New  Guinea.     No.  4. 

By  William  Macleay,  F.L. S.,  &c 252 

Descriptions  of  New  Genera  and  Species  of  Australian  Fishes.     By 

Charles  Wv  De  Vis,  B.A 283 

Occasional   Notes  on  Plants  Indigenous  in  the  Neighbourhood  of 

Sydney.     No.  4.     By  E.  Haviland,  Esq 289 

Localities  of  some  Species  of  Recent  Polynesian  Mollusca.     By  John 

Brazier,  CM. Z  S 294 

Notes  and  Exhibits 197,  217,  280,  296 


'(s^   "S. 


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VOL.  •VIII. 

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Containing  the  Papers  read  at  the  Meetings  held  in  July, 
August  and  September. 

-wiTHQ    six:    IPL^TES- 


OCTOBER  19,  1883. 


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PAGE 

Myology  of  Chlamydosaunis  Kingii.     By  Charles  W.  D.  Vis,  B.A. 

(Plates  14,  15  and  16) 300 

Descriptions  of  Australian  Micro-Lepidoptera      By  E.  Meyeick,  B.A., 

Part  IX.,  Oeco-phoridse  (Contimied J 320 

Some  remarks   on  the  action  of  Tannin  on  Infusoria.     By   Harry 

GiLLiATT,  Esq 

On  a  Fossil  Calvaria.     By  Charles  W.  De  Vis,  B.A.  (Plate  17) 
Remarks  on  a  Skull  of  an  Aboriginal  from  the  Lachlan  district. 

N.    DE  Miklouho-Maglay  (Plate  18)  ..  

On  a  very  Dolichocephalic  Skull  of  an   Australian  Aboriginal. 

N.  DE  Miklouho-Maglay  (Plate  19) 

On  a  Fossil  Humerus.     By  Charles  W.  De  Vl«.,  B.A 

Notes  on  some  undescribed  Coleoptera  in  the  Brisbane  Museum.     By 

William  Macleay,  F.L.S 409 

Notes  and  Exhibits 386,396,416 


... 

383 

392 

By 

-r> 

395 

By 

401 

... 

404 

/C/U^    C^/7/'3.y 


THE 


o 


i  y. 


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CONTENTS  OF  VOL,  VIII.,  PAKT  i. 


Occasional   Notes    on    Plants   indigenous   in   the    XeiglibojLirhood    of 

Sydney  (No.  5).     By  E.  Haviland 421 

Temperature  of  the  body  of  Echidna  hystrix.     By  N.  de  Mikl'ouho- 

Maclay 425 

Plagiostomata    of    the    Pacific,   Part    II.     (Plate    20 j.     By    N.     db 

MiKLorHO-MACLAY  and  William  Macleay,  F.L.S.,  <S'c.  ..      426 

Notes   on    some    Eeptiles    from    the   Herbert    River.     By    William 

Macleay,  F.L  S.,  &c 432 

Notes  on  some  Customs  of  the  Aborigines  of  the  Albert  District.     By 

C.  S.  Wilkinson,    F.G.S.,  F.L.S 436 

On  the  Brain  of  Grey's  Whale  (Plate  21).     By  William  A.  Haswell, 

M.A.,  B.Sc 437 

On   a  new   genus   of    Fishes   from   Port    Jackson   (Plate   22).      By 

William  Macleay,  F.L.S. ,  &c 439 

Fishes  from  the  South  Sea  Islands.     By  Charles  W.  De  Vis,  M.A.     445 
Some  results  of  Trawl  Fishing  outside  Port  Jackson.     By  William 

Macleay,  F.L.S..  &c 457 

The    "  Barometro  Araucano,"   from   the   Chiloe   Islands.     By  N.  de 

Miklouho-Maclay        462 

Far  Southern  localities  of  New  South  Wales  Plants.     By  Baron  Sir 

F.  yonMi^'LLEr,  K.CM.G,  F.R.S,  &c 467 

Descriptions    of    Australian     Micro-Lepidoptera,    Part    X.      By    E. 

Meyeick,  B.A 469 

Notes  on  the  Geology  of  the  Southern  portion  of  the  (Jlarence  River 

Basin.     By  Professor  Stephens,  M  A.  519 

Dimensions  of  some  gigantic  Land  Tortoises.     By  J.  C.  Cox,  M.D., 

F.L.S 531 

Notes  and  Exhibits 441,463,532 

President's  Annual  Address  .,.         ...     536 

Office-Bearers  and  Council  for  1884  ...         ...         ..  ...     583 

Title  page,  Contents  and  Index  of  Vol.  VIII.